King and Collector

Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship

King and Collector
Siobhan Clarke, Linda Collins
RRP:
NZ$ 50.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 40.79
Hardback
h216 x 138mm - 208pg
1 Apr 2021 UK
International import eta 10-19 days
9780750996242
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
A sumptuous guide to the art of Henry VIII with analysis of what his collection of paintings and artworks reveal about the man and his reign. No English king is as well-known to us as Henry VIII, famous for six marriages, for breaking with the Pope, dissolving the monasteries and creating the Church of England; and for his ruthless elimination of those who stood in his way. But he was also an enthusiastic patron of the arts who established the most magnificent court ever seen in England. No English monarch ever owned as many houses or spent so lavishly. His palaces, tapestries and paintings enriched the Tudor court and began the Royal Collection, but in contrast to later royal collectors, Henry was not interested in works of art or artists for their own sake. He was interested in storytelling and his own agenda. Ultimately, each of his commissions told some aspect of one central story: self-glorification. King and Collector tells the unique story of art, power and propaganda in Tudor England. AUTHORS: Linda Collins holds a BA in early Italian art and an MA in the works of Georges de la Tour. She was employed by Historic Royal Palaces for 23 years while continuing a career as an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society. Siobhan Clarke has a BA in modern history and has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for twenty years. She has also delivered lectures for the National Trust and the British Museum. Siobhan has written for BBC History Magazine and All About History and featured on Radio 4' s Women' s Hour.
I was gripped from the first paragraph. This is a lively, fascinating and, above all, sound account of Henry VIII as sitter and patron. His turbulent reign is mirrored in art and it is brought to life for a broad audience in this wonderful, beautifully crafted book. Packed with absorbing detail and brilliant insights, this is a must for anyone with an interest in the Tudor period -- Alison Weir Exquisite . . . Paints a vivid picture of the splendour of Henry VIII' s court and the art treasures within it, and in so doing brings the king himself dazzlingly to life. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, it casts fresh light upon the most famous monarch in British history -- Tracy Borman This is a book about Tudor art, but also the stories within and around each artwork . . . In their account, the authors have succeeded where many others have failed. Art has not been reduced to mere illustration; it becomes an immersive gateway into an exploration of Tudor culture, political symbolism and spirituality. We also have a well-matched account of Henry himself - the nature of his kingship, his ambitions, achievements, failures, frustrations and insecurities - and we follow his path from ebullient masquer and triumphant jouster to the crippled, irascible tyrant . . . Through the text and the artworks, we can glimpse a lost world of bejewelled courtiers and palaces drenched in the colour and symbolism of 16th-century art and craftsmanship, as well as understand what it meant to Henry VIII and the Tudor art of kingship -- Brett Dolman, Curator (Collections), Historic Royal Palaces Learning about the arts should always be an enriching and satisfying experience. Crucial to that experience are inspiring narrators who can breathe life into the stories of the past that are captured in art and material culture. It is a real joy to be in the presence of experts who not only understand their subject matter but also the audience they are sharing their knowledge with . . . Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke bring a magnificent and dreadful king to life through the visual medium of his paintings, and in doing so create an impression of knowing the man more intimately. The Art of Kingship is indeed an apt title for this little book that offers us an enormous visual slice of Henry' s life -- Florian Schweizer, CEO of the Arts Society
Linda Collins holds a BA in early Italian art and an MA in the works of Georges de la Tour. She was employed by Historic Royal Palaces for 23 years while continuing a career as an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society. Siobhan Clarke has a BA in modern history and has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years. She has also delivered lectures for the National Trust and the British Museum. Siobhan has written for BBC History Magazine and All About History and featured on Radio 4' s Woman' s Hour.
Status: No local stock, title imported to order
ISBN-13: 9780750996242
Published: 1 Apr 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: The History Press
Publisher: The History Press
Format: Hardback
Height: 216mm
Width: 138mm
Pages: 208

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