The Henry VIII Enigma

The following painting is titled The Family of Sir Thomas More and was painted by the English artist Rowland Lockey c. 1594.

It's based on an earlier work by Hans Holbein the Younger, that was said to have been lost in a fire in the 18th century. The painting shows Sir Thomas More (councillor to Henry VIII and Lord High Chancellor of England) along with various members of his family.

Included in the family scene is Sir Thomas More's fool Henry Patenson - who looks to be dressed up as Henry VIII.

There are several alternate versions of this painting (which I'll show later). All of which are slightly different. There is some conjecture as to who is depicted in each one.

According to Wikipedia the National Portrait Gallery lists the sitters in this particular version as: -

(click to enlarge)

Wikipedia also states that the painting was, "probably commissioned by More's grandson, Thomas More II, to commemorate five generations of the family."

That is the official history of the painting.

However, when I look at the painting something else stands out.

Henry and his Six Wives? Surely a coincidence?

But let's have a look at the lady second from the left again.

It's said that Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, had six fingers.

How odd that the artist seems to be drawing attention to the extra finger of this lady by having her painted in the process of pulling on a glove.

Could the painter be encoding some secret meaning into this painting? Some knowledge that the story of Henry VIII isn't quite what we think it is?

The other versions of this painting are all equally enigmatic.

A study for the portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1527.

Sir Thomas More and Descendants, oil on canvas, c. 1593. Rowland Lockey.

Sir Thomas More and Descendants, miniature watercolour version, c. 1594. Rowland Lockey.

Note the prominence of the clock (with open front) in each of these images. Suggestive of time or chronology. Or perhaps of time being stopped or played with.

Also note More's fool, Henry Patenson, in the final painting - this time peeping out from behind a curtain, in true pantomime style.

"Hello.."

What are these paintings alluding to?

Let's Look at the Wider Story of Henry VIII

Henry VIII oversaw one of the most tumultuous periods in English history. His reign included the Dissolution of the Monasteries and England's break from Rome.

He had six wives:

Three called Catherine. Two called Anne. And one called Jane.

Two of which were beheaded.

(Echoes of Anatoly Fomenko's historic duplicates maybe?)

He cut a large-than-life figure too.

And where did he live?

Nonsuch Palace - so called because it was said there was no place else quite like it. (Could it have been called 'Nonsuch' because no such place existed though?)

Nonsuch

He also famously lived at Hampton Court, although that was originally built and owned by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Who later gave it to Henry. Though Henry left Wolsey's insignia above the entrance.

Note how superficially similar the depiction of Nonsuch is to the exterior of Hampton Court.

(Particularly Anne Boleyn's gate,

shown on the left)

Henry also had multiple advisors named Thomas. Along with Wolsey, there was (the above painted) Thomas More, his protestant mirror, Thomas Cromwell, and also Thomas Cranmer.

(Left: Cromwell; Right: More)

Henry even ended up being buried in a tomb that was originally intended for Thomas Wolsey.

(Adding to the fairy tale sense of Henry's life, legend also has it that he wrote the classic guitar (or lute) favourite, 'Greensleeves.')

Accounts in Plays

Interestingly, Henry VIII, the play by Shakespeare, was originally called All Is True. Suggestive of contention over accounts of his life.

Another play, When You See Me You Know Me (by Samuel Rowley, published 1605), gives a more garbled account. Bizarrely, Cardinal Wolsey is still alive at the end of the play, when the conventional account of history states that he died in 1530, three years before Anne Boleyn became Queen. In the play he's managing England's affairs during the subsequent reigns of Queen Jane and Queen Catherine. On top of this, Thomas Cromwell isn't mentioned throughout the entire play. Likewise, Catherine Howard (and her beheading) don't get a mention. The play just jumps from Jane Seymour to Catherine Parr. Anne of Cleves only getting a single line of text spoken about her. Strange.