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Portrait of Henry VIII
Oil on panel, 28 x 20 cm, by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1537
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
 

Holbein presents the King with commanding directness, emphasising the breadth of his torso and the richness of his garments to assert authority and presence. The finely patterned textiles and jewelled adornments are painted with remarkable clarity, reinforcing the splendour and dignity of kingship. The steady gaze, set within the formal rigidity of the pose, imbues the portrait with a sense of controlled power and unwavering self-assurance.