Art and Dynasty: Henry VIII --- Day 12/180

 Walk: No, closet caper

Armor garniture, probably of King Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-47)*

More confident than his father and in possession of a full treasury, Henry VIII spent lavishly on the construction of new palaces and sumptuous works of art to adorn them.  Seeking to rival the courts of his counterparts, especially Francis I of France, Henry raised the English court to a new level of sophistication.  He severed ties with the Catholic Church and established himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England, thus giving him both spiritual and secular power over his subjects.  Although today he is most widely known for his later more tyrannical reign, it is he who was largely responsible for the lasting English artistic achievements of the middle ages through his  patronage of superior artists in many fields.

* Henry was 6' 2"