Yes, Henry VIII is really taking over my blog!! But I just noticed (well, my husband noticed) that tonight on BBC4 at 9pm is a two part documentary called “Henry VIII: Patron or Plunderer” with architectural historian, Jonathan Foyle.
This is what the BBC have to say about Episode 1:
“King Henry VIII had a fascinating and enlightening relationship with art. He came to the throne as the renaissance swept across Europe, yet England’s new King never lost sight of the medieval chivalry of his forefathers.
In the first of a two-part documentary, architectural historian Jonathan Foyle looks at the palaces, tapestries, music and paintings created in the King’s name and questions whether the art he commissioned compensates for the religious treasures he would come to destroy.”
Episode 2 is on next Wednesday and the BBC say:-
“In the 1530s, King Henry VIII was at a crossroads. In his desperation for a new wife and an heir, he had broken with Rome, divorced Katherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn. Isolated and vulnerable, he needed a powerful new image as head of church and state.
In the second of a two-part documentary, architectural historian Jonathan Foyle looks for clues in the king’s art to glimpse what was going on inside Henry’s head as he faced his darkest days.”
It looks a fascinating documentary and if you can’t catch it tonight, it is also repeated at various times – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00l7qdh for details.
Sorry if you cannot get BBC 4!
