Henry VIII and Henry VII

This cartoon is a section of a drawing for the wall painting in Whitehall, originally three times as large but to the same scale. However, unlike in the wall painting as finally executed, where Henry has his head turned frontally to the viewer, the cartoon shows Holbein planning a three quarters profile. The cartoon was used to transfer the picture to the wall, a needle being used to make holes along the outlines through which a fine charcoal powder was blown or dabbed after the cartoon has been fixed to the wall.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 5 minutes): Camille Saint-Saens: Hénri VIII, Scene and Henry's aria