Henry VIII
1630
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
plate: 16.2 × 11.5 cm (6 3/8 × 4 1/2 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1951.11.340
Art Historical Context
Thomas Cecil’s 1630 engraving offers a compact yet commanding portrait of Henry VIII, the Tudor king whose reign reshaped English history. At just 16.2 by 11.5 centimeters, the print was well suited for inclusion in books or private collections, allowing viewers to encounter the monarch’s image long after his death in 1547. Cecil, working in the tradition of English printmakers, used the engraving technique to translate an earlier painted likeness into a reproducible form. Engraving’s fine lines and precise cross-hatching were especially effective for rendering rich textures such as fur, velv...