Artists of Northern Europe, Portraiture, Tudor portraiture

Sir Thomas More – how we know him & his family

The face of Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) is known to us because Hans Holbein the Younger (c1497-1543) painted the portrait that now hangs in the Frick Collection, New York. Sir Thomas More as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancasterhans Holbein the Younger (c1497-1543). Frick Collection New York.Image source : Wikipedia For those interested in the… Continue reading Sir Thomas More – how we know him & his family

Artists of Northern Europe, Books, Flemish primitives, Illuminated manuscripts

Hidden in Plain Sight :Visual evidence of travellers’ tales & trade in birds & other marvellous beasts

Below is the outline for the paper I will be presenting at the international conference titled Maritime Animals being held at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, between 25-27th April 2019.  This paper will discuss just one element of my research into the visual evidence of trade with the Far East that is evident in surviving… Continue reading Hidden in Plain Sight :Visual evidence of travellers’ tales & trade in birds & other marvellous beasts

Artists of Northern Europe, Interviews, Royal Portraits, Subjects for discussion, Symbols and emblems

An Interview with Heather Darsie: Author of Anna Duchess of Cleves, The King’s Beloved Sister.

Mell.  Heather, welcome.  As an art historian, I am interested in the various portraits of Anna and the iconography used by the family.  I remember when we both attended the 500th anniversary celebratory conference of Corpus Christi College, Oxford and you disappeared for a morning. What were you doing while I was listening to the… Continue reading An Interview with Heather Darsie: Author of Anna Duchess of Cleves, The King’s Beloved Sister.

Artists of Northern Europe, Exhibitions, Illuminated manuscripts, portrait miniature, Portraiture

Illuminators of the Tudor Court

This article focuses on those who created the portrait miniatures from the mid 1520s until 1603 and how, thanks to the talents of the artists employed at the Tudor court, we are able to identify some aristocratic sitters of the 16th century.  Links to images and articles are in bold italics. Portraits of the aspiring… Continue reading Illuminators of the Tudor Court

Artists of Northern Europe, Flemish primitives, Illuminated manuscripts

The Adoration of the Kings

As Epiphany approaches, we remember how the Holy Family were visited by three wise men from the East. However they, having foreseen the arrival of the new King of the Jews, had gone to King Herod thinking they would find the infant Christ there. Herod had no knowledge of the birth of a new king,… Continue reading The Adoration of the Kings