Henry VIII – Exhibition at Windsor Castle

500th Anniversary Show Explores Life and Loves of Tudor Monarch

Mar 11, 2009

Lucas Horenbout, Henry VIII, c.1526-7 , Royal Collection 2009, HM Queen Elizabeth II

The loves and life of one of the most significant monarchs in English history will be examined through manuscripts, weapons, books, prints, drawings and paintings.

Windsor Castle is one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's official residences. As the world's largest and oldest occupied castle, it is home to, and workplace of, a large number of people employed by the royal estate. The State Apartments are frequently used by Her Majesty for State ceremonies and official entertaining.

The Castle has its own chapel, St George's Chapel, completed during the reign of Henry VIII. Buried within the chapel are ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third, and favourite wife, Jane Seymour.

Some of England's oldest letter boxes are located just outside Windsor Castle. The letter box on the right of the photograph is a rare George VI airmail box.

The Treasures of Windsor Castle

The Royal Collection and archives of St. George's Chapel possess many prints, drawings and paintings by Canaletto, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Rubens, Hans Holbein the Younger, Thomas Wriothesley, Joris Hoefnagel, Nicholas Hilliard, Lucas Horenbout and others.

In 1992 many of the Castle's important treasures narrowly escaped destruction when fire damaged more than 100 rooms. Fortunately, most of the rooms were empty at the time, and the Castle has since been fully restored.

Henry VIII — A 500th Anniversary Exhibition

The Royal Collection and the archives of St. George's Chapel have pooled their resources and will mount an exhibition at Windsor which will explore the loves and life of Henry VIII and the important figures that formed part of his close circle of friends and advisors.

Highlights of this installation will include:

A miniature portrait by Lucas Horenbout portraying the monarch, aged 35, when he was still a good-looking, very fit young man.
As a young sportsman the king enjoyed hunting on the Windsor estate and the exhibition includes a hunting sword made for him in 1544 by the Spanish swordsmith and damascener Diego da Caias. This craftsman was also known to have made weapons for Francis I, King of France and Edward VI, King of England.
Henry VIII was desperate to have a legitimate heir. Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, son of the King and his teenage mistress Elizabeth Blount, was the only illegitimate offspring that the King acknowledged. A miniature by Lucas Horenbout shows Henry Fitzroy, aged about 15 (ca 1533-4). Fitzroy died a few years after the portrait was painted.
Thomas Wriothesley's Garter Book containing what is believed to be the earliest surviving depiction of Henry VIII surrounded by his advisors at the Opening of Parliament.

Henry VIII: A 500th Anniversary Exhibition will open on 8th April 2009 and will run until 18th April 2010 and full details can be obtained from The Royal Collection.

The copyright of the article Henry VIII – Exhibition at Windsor Castle in Special Art Gallery Exhibits is owned by Frances Spiegel. Permission to republish Henry VIII – Exhibition at Windsor Castle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.