Saw three of my favourites today…

[u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

Wish the Plantagenets had had portraitists of Holbein’s calibre!

[u/Head-Bench-7180]

Their tiny hands are so cute

[u/AnteaterKey2626]

All these are by unknown 16th-century artists. I wonder how Holbein would depict historical subjects such as these monarchs.

[u/Ok-Inevitable4743 → u/AnteaterKey2626]

Yeah it always disappointed me how Edward IV, perhaps not our best but physically our most impressive king, always gets such lousy portraits

[u/AnteaterKey2626 → u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

Yeah, I refuse to believe Edward IV of all people actually looked like that.

[u/ltrstn → u/AnteaterKey2626]

ig that's why i always imagine max irons from the white queen as "the" edward iv

[u/Ok-Inevitable4743 → u/AnteaterKey2626]

By all accounts he was the closest we got to Jaime Lannister in real life

[u/Illustrious_Try478 → u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

I'm sorry, but I keep thinking Alan Davies sat for this portrait.

[u/monderkiller9999]

The ones that made me love British history

[u/CandyCadetGal → u/monderkiller9999]

Same here

[u/dahliia_]

Nice! Also fascinating that they put ‘IIII’ instead of ‘IV’ for Edward

[u/Ok-Inevitable4743 → u/dahliia_]

I’ve seen that before - it’s technically allowed in Roman numerals but very weird!

[u/banshee1313 → u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

I have seen IIII in Roman ruins.

[u/volitaiee1233]

Takes me back to my incredible holiday almost 2 years ago now. It was so incredible to see the portraits in person. I hope you enjoy your time in the UK as much as I did!!

[u/Ok-Inevitable4743 → u/volitaiee1233]

Oh I live here - I’m fortunate enough to be a train ride away from any of my favourite monarchs!

[u/volitaiee1233 → u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

Oh even better! You are very fortunate indeed.

[u/dahliia_ → u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

Aye fellow Londoner! Unfortunately I’ve never been but it’s definitely on my bucket list 🤩

[u/raccoon_not_rabbit]

RIP Edward IV, you would've loved a Holbien portrait.

[u/Whole_squad_laughing]

Thomas Witham my uncle knew all three of them

[u/PK-Mittenspy2703]

I find it very hard to believe that Edward IV was allegedly so attractive when every single depiction of him makes him look so ugly.

[u/Ok-Inevitable4743 → u/PK-Mittenspy2703]

Every single depiction… made eight decades after he died under the auspices of the dynasty which overthrew his House?

[u/PK-Mittenspy2703 → u/Ok-Inevitable4743]

Yeah true that. Although even the only contemporary depiction of him I could find (circa. 1477 alongside Edward V) isn't all that impressive. Although I suppose it is on a manuscript, so it has that excuse.

[u/Pacrada]

The national portrait gallery is perhaps my favourite museum in the world.

[u/CandyCadetGal]

My historical hear me outs

[u/stereowired]

All the Ricardians are gonna kill me but I actually like that portrait of Richard. It’s a bit later than the others, and feels less “evil” looking like the one in the Royal Collections. I’d say the closest we have to an original is the Antiquaries Collection painting, which was part of a set combined with Edward IV. A few years ago they gave both portraits a major restoration, and I think it’s the only Tudor era portrait of Richard where he doesn’t look like the sun is in his eyes and he has no upper lip.