‘King and Collector: Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship’ with Siobhan Clarke

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No English king is as well-known to us as Henry VIII. He is famous for six marriages, 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 whose palaces, tapestries and paintings enriched the Tudor court and began the Royal Collection.

The forces that influenced Henry’s life can be seen in the works he commissioned, by artists such as Pietro Torrigiano, Hans Holbein and Giralomo da Treviso. They tell us much about his kingship and (unintentionally) his insecurities. Ultimately, each of the works told one central story: the glorification of Henry and his England.

Siobhan Clarke has a BA in Modern History and a Teaching Certificate. She has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years and is based at Hampton Court Palace, where she trained as a Costumed Interpreter before becoming an HRP Guide Lecturer. As well as specialising in 16th century dress, she delivers lectures on the history and art of Hampton Court, the Tower of London, the Banqueting House and Kensington Palace. She lectures abroad for luxury cruise lines and, within the UK, for the National Trust and U3A. Siobhan also works with best-selling historian, Alison Weir, on tours and events. She has featured on BBC Radio ‘Women's Hour’ and PBS Television's ‘Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace’. Her published work include A Tudor Christmas with Alison Weir (Jonathan Cape, 2018), The Tudors: The Crown, the Dynasty, the Golden Age with Linda Collins (Andre Deutsch, 2019) and Gloriana with Linda Collins.