What did Henry think of Anne of Cleves?
“She is nothing fair, and have very evil smells about her,” Henry reportedly said, adding that he “plainly mistrusted her to be no maid by reason of the looseness of her belly and breasts and other tokens.” The king concluded, “I have left her as good a maid as I found her.”
Why did Henry call Anne of Cleves Flanders mare?
Anne wasn’t a very attractive woman according to popular history – although I’m not sure she was quite as hideous as this. ‘ Anne was the fourth of Henry’s six wives, sent over from Germany after he saw a flattering portrait by Holbein. On arrival, he called her the ‘Flanders Mare’.
What was the main purpose of Hans Holbein’s painting of Henry VIII?
Other Royal Portraits by Holbein It was probably commissioned to celebrate the birth of Henry’s long-awaited heir, Edward, who was born in October 1537. In any event, this portrait became the definitive representation of Henry VIII, and the one from which almost all other portraits have derived.
Was Anne of Cleves a Flanders mare?
Anne became known as the ‘Flanders Mare’ only much later in the 17th century. Henry preferred to select his own wife and court them directly. Once the political motivation for marrying Anne had receded Henry began to look for reasons not to marry her.
What does Flanders mare mean?
noun. 1A mare of a Flemish breed, typically strong and of large stature, and often used to pull coaches. 2 derogatory A tall or strongly built woman (usually with the implication of unattractiveness); specifically (a nickname for) Anne of Cleves (1515–57), the fourth wife of Henry VIII.
What did Henry VIII call Anne of Cleves?
Flanders Mare
Anne became known as the ‘Flanders Mare’ only much later in the 17th century. Henry preferred to select his own wife and court them directly.
Which of his wives did King Henry VIII disparagingly refer to as the Flanders mare ‘?
Flanders Mare a nickname of Anne of Cleves (1515–57), fourth wife of Henry VIII, whom the king divorced; according to Smollett’s A Complete History of England (3rd ed., 1759), ‘The King found her so different from her picture…that…he swore they had brought him a Flanders mare. ‘
What was the purpose of equestrian portraits in history?
What was the purpose of equestrian portraits in history? This portrait is by Diego Velazquez called Philip IV on Horseback. Equestrian portraits became common because it was believed that leaders looked especially powerful atop a large, powerful beast (horse).
What is notable about Holbein’s portraits of Henry VIII?
Portrait of Henry VIII is a lost work by Hans Holbein the Younger depicting Henry VIII. It was destroyed by fire in 1698, but is still well known through many copies. It is one of the most iconic images of Henry and is one of the most famous portraits of any English or British monarch.