Time Out with the Tudors

We recently headed to Cleveland for an extended family wedding. It was the first trip I'd taken (apart from to the kids or to the lake) since Covid and what a treat to connect once more with friends and family. Our first stop was to see friends Jane and Mike. Jane had kindly given us tickets to the Tudor exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art for the following day and we enjoyed a terrific dinner and catching up. Mike had recently returned from Ukraine where he was training doctors and civilians in emergency medicine. He had some fascinating and harrowing stories to tell.

The next morning we were off to the museum. The period of the Tudors -- Henry VII through Elizabeth I -- was a time of an arts renaissance. It was also a time of great political change -- separation from the Roman Catholic Church, wars, and more. 

It was also a time of luxury when patronizing the arts was legimitized. The finest weavers of Flanders, the great painters and armorers combined European art into what the exhibit describes as a distinctly English style.

Our tickets were for 10:30 and the exhibit wasn't at all crowded, which made it very comfortable for taking one's time to look at the art. Items were donated for the exhibit from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many private collections. I noticed that on more than a few, the pieces were donated by King Charles III.

It was fascinating to see tapestries that covered the massive walls of the museum, so large that my camera couldn't capture the entire view! 

But the details were exquisite.

The portraits were magnificent -- and big!

The one below, of Edward VI by Hans Holbein, is one I've seen on just about every documentary or in any book about the Tudors. To see it from inches away was spellbinding. (It makes sense there aren't a lot of portraits of Edward VI -- he didn't live long.)

Here's a closer look.

 

He was survived by his sister, Mary, also known as Bloody Mary, daughter of Katharine of Aragon, who decided to restore the Catholic Church in England and led a reign of terror for many.

And of course, Elizabeth I had her day. Here is a portrait of her in younger days... (sorry for the bad lighting)

 

...and one called the "Elizabeth I: The Rainbow Portrait" by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, a Flemish artist. It was painted at the end of her reign and depicts her as an "ageless and unreal beauty."

 

The painting is loaded with symbolism. The serpent on her sleeve represents wisdom, The motif of eyes and ears on her cloak indicate she is all-seeing and hearing and the rainbow represents bringing light to her subjects after a storm. Here's a detail.

 

There were numerous other items as well, including this chausible, an outer vestment worn by a priest for celebrating Mass, presumably made for and worn by Cardinal Woolsey.

.... and this magnificent cope is a liturgical vestment commissioned by Henry VII. It was made of linen and silk embroidered with gold and silver threads. The vertical gate or portcullis in the center is a symbol of Henry's maternal Beaufort family and is surrounded by red rose vines and -- at the top -- two Tudor Roses. It was one of 30 vestments commissioned by Henry VII for Westminster Abbey from Italian weavers.

Rick was intrigued by some of the armor -- with good reason. It was magnificent. (But not good for cycling.) This one was for Henry VIII -- much smaller than the King of the later portraits.

 This one was extremely elaborate.

There was some stained glass as well.

And then there were those tapestries.. This one shows the burning of the books. Everything old is new again.

As you can see -- enormous!

In short, it was a wonderful exhibit -- but there was more to come! 

After all, this is a big museum -- and there was plenty to see!

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