The First Portrait of Elizabeth: 'The Family of Henry VIII'

Throughout their reigns, the Tudor monarchs, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, focused on projecting the perfect image to the world. They understood and mastered the art of propaganda through various mediums, mainly through art. 

Each monarch had a favorite artist who they commissioned to captivate their likeness and distort it to new heights. For example, Henry VIII favored the celebrated German-born artist Hans Holbein, while Elizabeth favored the Flemish-born Marcus Gheeraerts. These artists enabled the monarch's subjects to glimpse their likelinesses and behold their majesty; this remains true for audiences today.

In this article, we will look at the first contemporary and surviving portrait of Elizabeth I when she was styled as Lady Elizabeth and discover the significance of the details behind the masterpiece.

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Queen Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, died on October 24, 1537, shortly after giving birth to his longed-for prince, Edward. As a result, Henry's heart softened toward his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, while recognizing the need to secure his dynasty with two heirs after his son.

So, in 1543, the King reinstated his daughters into the line of succession. However, while it restored their rightful line on the throne, Mary and Elizabeth were still legally illegitimate and thus continued to be styled as Ladies and not Princesses. ¹

After considerable mourning for Queen Jane and devoting time to his leisurely pursuits, the King remarried three years later, first to Anne of Cleves and then to Katherine Howard, both marriages ending disastrously. He married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr, in July 1543. 

The King, elderly, out of shape, obese, and suffering from pain due to an ulcerous leg he had injured in a jousting accident many years ago, longed for his past glory while also fixating on his imminent death. He needed something that portrayed him as a beacon of power and ensured that his majesty would live on forever.

That propaganda tool came in the form of a painting known posthumously as 'The Family of Henry VIII'. The 56.89 x 140.12 inch oil on canvas painting was painted by an unknown artist of the British school sometime in 1544-1545, just a few years before the King died in 1547. 

In the picture seen in this link, the King, draped in cloth of gold, is situated in the center as he sits on a Dias under an ornate canopy. Above his head is his monogram 'Henricus Rex VIII' and heraldic badge. Between him stands his beloved son, Edward (aged 7 or 8), and his deceased wife, Jane Seymour.

In the background of the painting, through the archway, is an image of a sumptuous garden and part of the since demolished Whitehall Palace. The painting was displayed in the presence chamber at Whitehall Palace during the Tudor era. ²

In the background of the painting are the King and Lady Mary's court jesters, Will Somers and Jane, the fool. It was not unusual for 16th-century monarchs' court jesters to be depicted in this way, as they were often given intimate access to royalty and treated as property.

The most interesting aspect of the painting is the images of Henry's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, with Mary to his right and Elizabeth to his left. 

When the painting was commissioned, Mary and Elizabeth would have been 28 or 29 and 11 or 12 years old, respectively. Therefore, 'The Family of Henry VIII' would be the earliest known contemporary and surviving portrait of Elizabeth Tudor. ³

Another interesting fact is that Elizabeth is portrayed wearing an 'A' pendant necklace, a possible gift handed down by her mother, Anne Boleyn. However, historian Elizabeth Norton believes the inclusion of the pendant was an attempt by the artist to denote her as Anne Boleyn's daughter rather than Elizabeth making a political statement by wearing it.

Other aspects to consider are that both Mary and Elizabeth are dressed similarly in French-style hoods, damask gowns, red velvet sleeves, and underskirts. 

Finally, the figures are depicted in a luxurious room within Whitehall Palace flanked by ornate pillars etched in gold, elaborate tapestries, and Turkish rugs.

According to The Royal Collection Trust, Hans Holbein's artistic style was mimicked throughout the painting: "The artist copied the faces of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour from Holbein's 'Whitehall Mural' and echoed the kings pose in the depiction of Prince Edward. The influence of Holbein can also be seen in the classicizing style of the architecture and the intricacy of the decorative motifs, so liberally highlighted in gold." ⁴

'The Family of Henry VIII' was a hommage to Henry, his favorite Queen, and heirs, and immortalized the Tudors' vision of power. It is equally significant given that it was the first known image of Elizabeth, England's most iconic monarch and that at the time it was commissioned, she was a young girl unaware of the marvelous destiny laid out for her. As it hangs at Hampton Court, it serves as a reminder of the majesty of the Tudors and how art shaped their legacy.

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Image source: shutterstock.com/Artist's The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sources:

1 Yardley, K. C. (2022, July 12). Becoming Elizabeth explained: Was Elizabeth Tudor known as Princess Elizabeth? K. C. Laiden Yardley. https://kclaidenyardley.com/2022/07/12/becomingelizabeth-princesselizabeth/

2, 4 Royal Collection Trust. (n.d.). The family of Henry VIII. https://www.rct.uk/collection/405796/the-family-of-henry-viii

3 Norton, E. [@ENortonHistory]. (2025,  March 27). The earliest known depiction of Elizabeth I, from the Family of Henry VIII which hangs in Hampton Court. [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/ENortonHistory/status/1905397673760620673