Henry VIII by Lambert Barnard, Chichester Cathedral.
Thank you to Melanie V. Taylor, our art historian, for spotting and sharing with me this interesting article on the beautiful Chichester Cathedral Tudor Paintings by Lambert Barnard (c1435 - 1567) which include this image of Henry VIII which I've never seen before.
Do take a look at http://www.chichestercathedraltrust.org.uk/chichesters-tudor-paintings/chichester-tudor-paintings/
After taking a Survey of Art class (prehistoric to the Baroque), I like how Lambert Barnard shows Henry with his hand on an open page in the bible (I presume it to be anyway) perhaps showing his leading the country as Head of the Church with some of the Peerage around him, showing solidarity behind Henry. Love the painting!
The painting in its entirety is to do with the Saxon foundation of the cathedral and its diocese and its continuation under Henry VIII immediately prior to the Reformation.
In response to Bishop Sherborn’s request (on the blue text scroll) that Henry re-confirm crown protection of Chichester Cathedral. The detail shows the king resting his hands on an open book in which is written ‘Ora pro amore Jhu Christi quod petis concedo’ — For the love of Jesus Christ, what you petition, I grant. An early example of Henrician rhetoric.