The Legacy of Henry VIII by
James Wiseman
From the July-August 1997 issue of Archaeology Magazine.
Summary:
When King Henry died, an inventory was taken of all the possessions
of the crown, a project that took three years to write up. Now, historians
have undertaken a five year long study of the inventory. The inventory
will be published in a three volume set entitled "Inventory of King Henry
VIII" edited by David Starkey of the London School of Economics.
There has long be debate over the identification of the figures in
some of the portraits of Tudor times, and the Inventory will possibly help
in that area. Already, there has been a strong indication that a painting
long thought to have been of Lady Jane Grey is actually Katherine Parr.
The identification was made on the brooch that appears on the figure's
bodice. The piece was described among the possessions of Henry's widow,
the Queen Dowager Katherine Parr. The new identification, made by American
historian Susan E. James, is based on this information about the brooch
in the Inventory as well as the history of the painting itself.
The first volume of "The Inventory of Henry VIII" is due to be published
at the end of the summer, will contain the complete text of two copies
of the inventory, an overview of the Project, as well as a glossary and
index. Volumes II and III will be published next year and will contain
22 illustrated essays on the main categories of objects.
The brooch that lead to the reidentification.
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