Oil on board (24 x 31.5 inches, unframed)
One can see that Anne Boleyn has captured the gaze of King Henry at his masquerade ball. Henry looks on, his eyes full of lust and avarice. Anne is coy and innocent of her unfolding future; this liaison sets in motion a series of events that culminate in catastrophe for Anne and many others, including Cardinal Wolsey! The sword, set against the shield, is an executioner’s sword, as attested by the round tip. It will behead Anne, at the hand of a famous French executioner. On the shield is the cross of St George, a symbol of The English Kingdom. Henry needs a son and heir to succeed him, he hopes Anne will facilitate this. We see the ‘Machiavellian’ Wolsey looking on, and later he will plan a clandestine visit to the Pope in a fatal attempt to stall Henry’s and Anne’s wedding plans. The former Queen, Katherine of Aragon, seen in the distance, has her back to the events. Her body language tells us that she is dejected, but she refuses to acknowledge her divorce from Henry; she is the true Queen. Katherine is the lucky one in this particular tale, as she escapes the executioner’s sword. The director of the play, Isabelle Watel, is using the painting on stage, during her Paris production of Henry VIII. The actors dance close to it during the masquerade scene. The painting and the play come together in a unique way, and I am so honoured by that.
Original painting (currently on tour in Paris: £950 use Contact Us
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