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Secrets of the Tudor Portraits: Unveiling the Masterpieces of Holbein, the Horenbouts, Hilliard, and Others
Step into the dazzling world of Tudor England, where art and power intertwine. In Secrets of the Tudor Portraits, Sylvia Barbara Soberton uncovers the hidden stories behind some of the most iconic images of the Tudor period. From the commanding presence of Henry VIII in Hans Holbein’s Whitehall Mural to Elizabeth I’s carefully crafted image as the Virgin Queen, these portraits are more than mere likenesses—they are coded messages, political propaganda and deeply personal reflections of their sitters.
Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, this book delves into the lives of the courtiers and artists who depicted them. Who were the true masterminds behind these masterpieces? What symbols and secrets lie hidden in plain sight? And how do these portraits continue to shape our understanding of the Tudor dynasty?Find answers to the following
Who is truly depicted in Michel Sittow’s Vienna portrait—Katherine of Aragon or Mary Tudor?What became of Hans Holbein’s famous Whitehall Mural?What can a now-lost portrait of Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, reveal about her?Why is Katherine of Aragon portrayed with a deformed jaw in some medals?What do we know about the Horenbout family, the artists who introduced miniature painting to England?Is the iconic portrait of Anne Boleyn based on a lost original? What became of her famous “B” necklace?Who was “Lady Parker” in Holbein’s sketch?Does the “Lady Bergavenny” portrait actually depict Anne Boleyn?Why did Jane Seymour choose St. Mary Magdalene as her patron saint?What do Anne of Cleves’s surviving portraits truly reveal about her appearance?Could portraits serve as evidence in treason trials?How did the Tudor monarchs use portraiture to shape their public image?What evidence suggests that Elizabeth I’s locket ring contains an image of Anne Boleyn?These and many other questions are answered in Secrets of the Tudor Portraits.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or someone intrigued by the interplay of power and image, Secrets of the Tudor Portraits offers a captivating journey into a world where every brushstroke tells a story.
Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, this book delves into the lives of the courtiers and artists who depicted them. Who were the true masterminds behind these masterpieces? What symbols and secrets lie hidden in plain sight? And how do these portraits continue to shape our understanding of the Tudor dynasty?Find answers to the following
Who is truly depicted in Michel Sittow’s Vienna portrait—Katherine of Aragon or Mary Tudor?What became of Hans Holbein’s famous Whitehall Mural?What can a now-lost portrait of Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, reveal about her?Why is Katherine of Aragon portrayed with a deformed jaw in some medals?What do we know about the Horenbout family, the artists who introduced miniature painting to England?Is the iconic portrait of Anne Boleyn based on a lost original? What became of her famous “B” necklace?Who was “Lady Parker” in Holbein’s sketch?Does the “Lady Bergavenny” portrait actually depict Anne Boleyn?Why did Jane Seymour choose St. Mary Magdalene as her patron saint?What do Anne of Cleves’s surviving portraits truly reveal about her appearance?Could portraits serve as evidence in treason trials?How did the Tudor monarchs use portraiture to shape their public image?What evidence suggests that Elizabeth I’s locket ring contains an image of Anne Boleyn?These and many other questions are answered in Secrets of the Tudor Portraits.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or someone intrigued by the interplay of power and image, Secrets of the Tudor Portraits offers a captivating journey into a world where every brushstroke tells a story.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2025
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44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2025
"The beauty of Tudor portraiture lies in its ability to continually reveal new insights"
As an introduction I need to easily admit I am a lifelong Tudorphile, having written my first Masters on Elizabeth I. I fell in love with the time frame reading My "Enemy the Queen" by Victoria Holt at the same time watching Keith Mitchell as Henry on PBS( I still own that on DVD) and one of my old favorites is "Elizabeth and Essex" with Bette Davis. My paper was in Elizabeth as the Supreme Head of the Church.
With that as my foundation I discovered Sylvia Barbara Soberton writing a Substack and eagerly wait for each entry.
Soberton writes eloquently of a subject she is fascinated with, taking the reader from the beginning of the Tudor dynasty with Margaret Beauford to its elaborate conclusion with Queen Elizabeth. She discusses everything from how people and things within the painting can tell the political and sociology of the time and how we can actually see what was going on behind it.
Although written as non fiction with extant endnotes, parts of the book read a bit like a drama or a telenovela that take the reader into an intriguing world that captures the imagination both then and now. Highly recommended 5/5
As an introduction I need to easily admit I am a lifelong Tudorphile, having written my first Masters on Elizabeth I. I fell in love with the time frame reading My "Enemy the Queen" by Victoria Holt at the same time watching Keith Mitchell as Henry on PBS( I still own that on DVD) and one of my old favorites is "Elizabeth and Essex" with Bette Davis. My paper was in Elizabeth as the Supreme Head of the Church.
With that as my foundation I discovered Sylvia Barbara Soberton writing a Substack and eagerly wait for each entry.
Soberton writes eloquently of a subject she is fascinated with, taking the reader from the beginning of the Tudor dynasty with Margaret Beauford to its elaborate conclusion with Queen Elizabeth. She discusses everything from how people and things within the painting can tell the political and sociology of the time and how we can actually see what was going on behind it.
Although written as non fiction with extant endnotes, parts of the book read a bit like a drama or a telenovela that take the reader into an intriguing world that captures the imagination both then and now. Highly recommended 5/5
May 19, 2025
Interesting But Lacking
This was not quite the book u expected. I thought there would be more discussion of iconography in the paintings instead of short stories of provenance.
I cannot understand why the portraits were printed in black and white, either. It would have made such a better book to have them in color.
This was not quite the book u expected. I thought there would be more discussion of iconography in the paintings instead of short stories of provenance.
I cannot understand why the portraits were printed in black and white, either. It would have made such a better book to have them in color.
May 19, 2025
Fascinating! living in the age of social media, where everyone can post constant photos of themselves all day long, we forget the power portraiture had before photography. People of the time could read the clothing and symbolism of portraits and see a full story represented in a way we no longer understand.
September 20, 2025
A throughly good read
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews