The Tudors

[katex]

I am fascinated by this period of history .. particularly Henry Vlll and his six wives.

Cannot understand why the BBC have depicted Henry as black haired as against the famous red hair we understand he had.

Also .. Ann of Cleves is always written down in history as 'not being of fair face', whereas he sought consolation in the beauty of Catherine Howard.

Is it me ? Think Ann was far prettier than Catherine ... there again not a fella'.

Ann of Cleves.jpg Ann of Cleves

Catherine Howard.jpg Catherine Howard

Henry Vlll.jpg Ugly Henry

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by katex

I am fascinated by this period of history .. particularly Henry Vlll and his six wives.

Cannot understand why the BBC have depicted Henry as black haired as against the famous red hair we understand he had.

I was under the impression that Elizabeth 1 got her red hair from her mother Anne Boleyn.

[Mancie]

Henry was a good looking man as in his early days by all accounts, well built and athletic .. but we all get old.
Henry's painter was sent to Germany to paint Anne of Cleves.. she looked good on canvass but was a dog.
The BBC producers have gone abit far showing Henry as a good lookin stud as he was in his 50's and an invalid when he wed Anne of Cleeves.

[West Ender]

Henry was definitely a redhead and Anne Boleyn had dark hair.

The portrait of Anne of Cleves left out the smallpox scars on her face, which is what Henry couldn't stand, and slimmed her down a bit - airbrushing 16th century style. I think the allure of Catherine Howard was that she was only 17 and was also able to overcome any revulsion she felt for him. She personally dressed his ulcerated legs, which must have been horrible.

Not my favourite era of history, I'm more into the Victorians, but a fascinating one none the less.

[katex]

Originally Posted by West Ender

The portrait of Anne of Cleves left out the smallpox scars on her face, which is what Henry couldn't stand, and slimmed her down a bit - airbrushing 16th century style. I think the allure of Catherine Howard was that she was only 17 and was also able to overcome any revulsion she felt for him. She personally dressed his ulcerated legs, which must have been horrible.

So she probably looked more like this then ? LOL.

Ann of Cleves.jpg

Not saying that he wasn't a good looking chap in his 20's .. just at the time of Ann and Catherine, apart from his power, not particularly appealing either.

This was someone's logged description when he was younger.

"His Majesty is the hansomest potentate I ever set eyes on; above the usual height, with an extremely fine calf to his leg, his complextion fair and bright, with auburn hair, combed straight and short in the French fashion, and a round face so very beautiful that it would become a pretty woman, his throat was rather long and thick"

[mattylad]

That Catherine was a bit of a brazen hussy...... the little temptress ... lol

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by mattylad

That Catherine was a bit of a brazen hussy...... the little temptress ... lol

Coarse she was, she lead Henry astray