Sudeley’s treasures: Get up close to tracings of Holbein portraits

Previously found in the castle rooms in the corridor leading to the library, 18th-century tracings made by the artist and engraver George Vertue (1684-1756) of original portraits by Holbein can now be enjoyed opposite our collection of Tudor costumes of Henry VIII and his six wives in our exhibition rooms.

Holbein’s insightful portraits were found in 1727 by King George II’s wife, Caroline of Ansbach, tucked away in a bureau in Kensington Palace, London. In 1743, renowned artist and engraver George Vertue made copies of 33 of the discovered works with the idea of turning them into engravings.

How the drawings came to Sudeley

Vertue’s drawings were purchased by the politician and peer Horace Walpole in 1757 and displayed at his home but were sold to the Dent family (who bought Sudeley in 1837) following a sale of treasures from the Strawberry Hill House collection in 1842. The Vertue drawings have remained at Sudeley Castle to this day, while Holbein’s originals are part of the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.

Nearly two thirds of those depicted in the 33 drawings have links to Henry VIII’s visit to Sudeley in 1535 to meet with Sir Thomas Cromwell prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. These include an uncharacteristically modest-looking Anne Boleyn and Thomas More carrying a stern expression alongside Jane Seymour and a young Prince Edward.

‘They’re amazing works of art in their own right,’ says Dominic Rose-Price, a member of Sudeley’s conservation team. ‘By re-siting them within our exhibition rooms we’re bringing them to the fore and giving them their due respect and showing them off to the public. We’re celebrating our connection with the Tudor dynasty and its relationship in turn with Sudeley.’

Wolf Hall on a wall?

Interestingly, John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who was executed by Henry VIII, bears a striking resemblance to actor Mark Rylance who portrayed Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1534 to 1540, in the BBC series Wolf Hall. ‘It’s a coincidence but adds a flavour to viewing the portraits,’ enthuses Dominic.

Our aim in relocating the portraits is to offer the opportunity to imagine the real lives of the figures depicted with Henry VIII and his wives, Katherine Parr most prominently positioned, looking on from across the exhibition space. We hope visitors will take a moment to pause and reflect on these remarkable personalities and the moment in history they represent.