Henry VII : a study of visual display in life and death
Henry VII reigned for twenty-four years (1485-1509) and established the Tudor dynasty, yet he is often regarded as a bland and avaricious monarch, who 'dwelleth more richly dead, in the monument of his tomb, than he did alive'. The aim of this research is to demonstrate that Henry was not a colourless king and that he was highly aware of the power of visual display, with an astute understanding of its impact. This awareness culminated in the heightened visual display of his tomb and re-founded Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey. Using a range of published primary sources, as well assessing art and buildings from Henry's reign, this study will examine Henry VII's communicative intent through visual display. This analysis will be undertaken in a chronological manner, initially focusing on the worldly Henry VII early in his reign, before exploring whether Henry became increasingly pious and preoccupied with death as his reign progressed. A comparative assessment of royal and noble wills confirms that Henry VII's will, with its associated indentures, was the longest and most detailed of any medieval monarch. This source will be examined to evaluate Henry's visual intentions as he faced his own mortality. A comparative analysis of Henry's funeral ceremony, chapel and tomb design, will demonstrate that in death Henry's grand visual display notably surpassed the burial practice of other ruling elites. Finally this study will show that the death of Henry's son Arthur in 1502 and his wife Elizabeth in 1503, shifted Henry's focus further towards outward demonstration of his own piety and saintly associations in death as well as in life, as he became preoccupied with the salvation of his soul.
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