The symbolic meaning shown in the portraits of King Henry Ⅷ

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine symbolic meanings of costumes shown by portraits of King Henry Ⅷ and use them as basic data for research on costume design of historical dramas in the Renaissance or on King Henry Ⅷ’s costume. This study attempted analysis of symbolic meanings from the paintings-related various domestic and overseas literatures, preliminary study paper, and web sites etc. The symbolic meanings expressed by the portraits of King Henry Ⅷ are characterized by authority, innovation performance, authority, masculinity, innovation performance, artistic taste, intellectual charm, intrepidity and benevolence. Especially, the portraits of King Henry Ⅷ symbolized his masculine beauty by emphasizing sexual attractiveness that cannot be seen in portraits of other kings through broad shoulders and exaggerated codpiece which are the zenith of masculine beauty during the Renaissance age. Through the image of King Henry Ⅷ which was painted with jester or barber surgeons, his characteristic and open mind thinking highly of the technique and human life was also expressed. In the portrait of King Henry Ⅷ, various images set in knights' tournament, playing a musical instrument and reading a book as well as the image of wearing a parliament costume were shown, highlighting King Henry Ⅷ as a person good at both literary and martial arts with open and innovative personality than any other kings in history.