Question #2 Image is everything. This phrase has become somewhat of a cliché in the world we live in now. However, back in 16th and 17th century England it was the reality. Visual displays of power and authority were vitally important to the functioning of English government. England operated under a rule of personal monarchy, and thus the King was reflected in his peoples. The way the upper echelons of society wielded their powers said much about the nature of society as a whole. There are clear correlations between how one is seen and the power they wield. There are several examples I will use to illustrate the significance of visual displays of power. I will begin by offering a brief introduction to the baroque art style. Known as the art
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On one side stood the Protestant reformation, while on the other the Catholic Church. Protestants, of which Henry VIII was one, criticized the Catholic Church’s so called “cult of images.” Protestants lashed out as what they viewed as the opulence and extravagance of the Catholic Church. Martin Luther even decried Rome as the “whore of Babylon.” Catholicism and baroque art are considered synonymous. Baroque art is characterized by ornate detail. Far from slowing the art of the Papacy, the Protestant Reformation accelerated the spread of the art style. Henry VIII, despite his very public divorce, was a Catholic. He was a true Renaissance king and took part in all that entailed. Because of this, Henry adopted several aspects of more baroque culture into his Royal Court. This becomes important when we consider that the very Church he broke off with, he is attempting to emulate in his own presentation. This is the core concept and argument beyond the utility of public displays of authority, for presentation. Much like paintings, visual displays are immediately easier to grasp. They can be created to be far more evocative and enduring. The English monarchy under King Henry VIII was completely devoted to …show more content…
Even on his death bed, as seen in the painting The Pope and King Edward VI, he is seen as a paragon of health. This could not have been further from the truth. He was an obese, boil ridden, syphilitic insomniac. Yet, many images from England depict him in much more favorable light. This speaks to the exact nature of power. Barring his unsteady later life, Henry VIII did all he could to project the image of authority and stability. I will discuss in my second essay the use of painting as propaganda for royalty, but it bears worth mentioning here as well. Displays of power are very rarely ubiquitous. Images speak to a different area of our brain than other modes of information. The King needed people to believe in his power and authority. England, during this time, had been going through several unnecessary wars. Not only that, but the King kicked out the pope. The common people needed to believe in the order and sanctity of government. This belief could be made manifest in several distinct ways. Henry himself was concerned with ritual to maintain compliance. Not only that, but Henry also cultivated a careful image of kingship. From his early days as a poet to his end, Henry established himself as a true monarch. He succeeded in marrying, along with six women, the sacred with the mundane. He became a figure that bridged two distinct worlds. He was also a man of immense passions. He cast
On one side stood the Protestant reformation, while on the other the Catholic Church. Protestants, of which Henry VIII was one, criticized the Catholic Church’s so called “cult of images.” Protestants lashed out as what they viewed as the opulence and extravagance of the Catholic Church. Martin Luther even decried Rome as the “whore of Babylon.” Catholicism and baroque art are considered synonymous. Baroque art is characterized by ornate detail. Far from slowing the art of the Papacy, the Protestant Reformation accelerated the spread of the art style. Henry VIII, despite his very public divorce, was a Catholic. He was a true Renaissance king and took part in all that entailed. Because of this, Henry adopted several aspects of more baroque culture into his Royal Court. This becomes important when we consider that the very Church he broke off with, he is attempting to emulate in his own presentation. This is the core concept and argument beyond the utility of public displays of authority, for presentation. Much like paintings, visual displays are immediately easier to grasp. They can be created to be far more evocative and enduring. The English monarchy under King Henry VIII was completely devoted to …show more content…
Even on his death bed, as seen in the painting The Pope and King Edward VI, he is seen as a paragon of health. This could not have been further from the truth. He was an obese, boil ridden, syphilitic insomniac. Yet, many images from England depict him in much more favorable light. This speaks to the exact nature of power. Barring his unsteady later life, Henry VIII did all he could to project the image of authority and stability. I will discuss in my second essay the use of painting as propaganda for royalty, but it bears worth mentioning here as well. Displays of power are very rarely ubiquitous. Images speak to a different area of our brain than other modes of information. The King needed people to believe in his power and authority. England, during this time, had been going through several unnecessary wars. Not only that, but the King kicked out the pope. The common people needed to believe in the order and sanctity of government. This belief could be made manifest in several distinct ways. Henry himself was concerned with ritual to maintain compliance. Not only that, but Henry also cultivated a careful image of kingship. From his early days as a poet to his end, Henry established himself as a true monarch. He succeeded in marrying, along with six women, the sacred with the mundane. He became a figure that bridged two distinct worlds. He was also a man of immense passions. He cast