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Primary sourcePaintingc. 1572

The Family of Henry VIII: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession

Lucas de Heere · c. 1572

An allegorical painting showing Elizabeth I bringing Peace and Plenty to England, contrasted with Mary I and Philip of Spain accompanied by War.

This allegorical painting presents Elizabeth as the bringer of peace, contrasting her with her sister Mary and promoting her legitimacy.

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Painting of a tiled, coffered-ceiling hall with columns. Henry VIII sits enthroned under a canopy in the center, flanked by a young boy and courtiers. A woman in a gold gown stands at right, with other figures in period dress and a classical-style figure at far right. An inscription runs along the bottom edge.
Lucas de Heere, The Family of Henry VIII: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession, c. 1572. National Museum Cardiff.

About this source

What it is

This painting by Lucas de Heere, dated around 1572, shows Henry VIII enthroned with his children: Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth, along with Mary's husband Philip of Spain and mythological figures. Although the people shown did not all live at the same time, the painting brings them together for symbolic effect. It is held by the National Museum Cardiff and was originally a gift to Francis Walsingham.

Why it matters

The painting is a piece of political propaganda from Elizabeth's reign. Mary and Philip are shown with Mars, the god of war, symbolising conflict, while Elizabeth is shown bringing Peace and Plenty, with Peace trampling the sword of discord. The inscriptions praise Elizabeth as a 'virgin queen' who brings prosperity, stressing her legitimate right to the throne through her Tudor descent.

Look closer

  • Why might the artist have mixed real family members with mythological figures like Peace, Plenty, and Mars?
  • What is the painting trying to say about Elizabeth compared to her sister Mary and brother-in-law Philip?
  • Why would a painting like this have been a valuable gift to someone like Francis Walsingham?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Elizabeth I and Henry VIII on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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