King Henry VIII
Henry VIII was born on June 28, 1491, in Greenwich, England. He was born into the Tudor dynasty, a significant period in English history founded by his father, Henry VII. The Tudors, which includes Henry VII and his children, ruled over England for 118 years.
Source: Wikimedia
Henry VIII was remembered for his legendary appetite and love of women, which resulted in the king having six wives throughout his short life. He infamously executed two of the latter, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
The Missing Portrait
Despite his horrendous actions, Henry VIII remains a well-known figure in English history. Numerous surviving portraits of the king exist. While some are placed in museums for the public to enjoy, others have vanished with time.
Source: Warwick City Council
One such painting lost to time was commissioned by the tapestry maker Ralph Sheldon in the 1590s. It was part of a series of over 20 portraits dedicated to other historical figures.
The Circumstances Surrounding Its Disappearance
The painting originally hung in Sheldon’s home in Warwickshire. However, in the centuries that followed his death, it was supposedly later sold before being lost to time.
Source: Wikimedia
Sheldon’s painting depicts the king draped in golden chains, with a plumed hat upon his head and a sword in hand, in what experts called a “rather cramped composition.”
Art Historian Stumbles Across the Missing Painting
Art experts had given up hope of ever seeing the painting again, with many suggesting it was in the hands of a private collector or quite possibly even destroyed.
Source: @Adam_FineArt/X
However, in a rare and unexpected moment, Adam Busiakiewicz, an art historian, spotted the missing painting in the background of a photograph shared to the popular social media site, X (formerly Twitter), per Artnet.
Art Consultant Makes Fascinating Discovery on Social Media
Busiakiewicz, a Sotheby’s consultant, was scrolling on X when he stumbled upon a photograph of a reception room in Shire Hall, Warwick, shared by @Warkslieutenant.
Source: @Warkslieutenant/X
After carefully analyzing the photograph, the art consultant determined that it was, in fact, the missing portrait of King Henry VIII painted by Sheldon in the 16th century.
Strange Discoveries Can Happen at Any Moment, Says Historian
Speaking on the nature of his discovery, Busiakiewicz wrote, “Strange discoveries can happen at any moment, it appears. This is especially the case when your eyes are particularly honed in on gilt frames that feature in the corners of photographs of peoples’ homes on social media.”
Source: Freepik
According to experts, the painting was located less than 15 miles from where it originally hung in Sheldon’s home over 400 years ago.
Identifying the Painting
Busiakiewicz explained several key factors that allowed him to successfully identify the painting as that of Sheldon.
Source: Freepik
The portrait of King Henry VIII had a “distinctive arched top” like others in the series. According to the art historian, the frame is also identical to that of other surviving paintings from the set.
The Last Known Location of the Painting
On his blog, Busiakiewicz detailed an illustration drawn by Henry Shaw showing a portrait hanging above a fireplace.
Source: @Adam_FineArt/X
“A similar frame could, after all, just be a coincidence. What further evidence is there that Henry VIII in Warwick was actually once part of the Sheldon set? Fortunately for us, the antiquarian Henry Shaw engraved a view of the Long Gallery at Weston later in 1839,” he said.
Experts Examine the Painting
Busiakiewicz was later given the opportunity to examine the portrait and shared a report on its condition.
Source: Freepik
“The oak panel has obviously split in an earlier period, and there is some damage found along the vertical joins which are stable. The face, and many details of the costume and jewelry, are well preserved,” he wrote. “As is usual with paintings of this age, some of the darks have suffered from previous over-cleaning, and the hands bear areas of clumsy repainting.”
Busiakiewicz Discovers Further Evidence Linking Henry VIII Painting to Sheldon
During his examination of the piece, the art historian used a flashlight, which allowed him to see the remains of a faint original inscription. It read “Henry / The 8” and was correlated to others from Sheldon’s set.
Source: Wikimedia
Busiakiewicz later discovered it was acquired by the Warwickshire County Council from Madingley Hall, Cambridgeshire, which, according to the consultant, was “part of the County Council’s attempts to aggrandize their historic properties with handsome historical portraits of Kings and Queens.”
Lost Portrait From the 1500s
Aaron Manning, a Warwick historian, joined Busiakiewicz in his examination of the painting and suggested it is “probably [the] lost Tudor portrait of King Henry VIII” as he promised “more to come.”
Source: @Adam_FineArt/X
He continued, “It’s wonderful that a lost portrait from the 1500s, especially one commissioned for and displayed in a Warwickshire home, has been rediscovered; a really important addition to the town’s already rich history.”