I Spy: Edward VI as a Child

Look closely at this portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger, painted around 1538. This is baby Edward, the son of King Henry VIII of England, and he was a very big deal! When this was painting was done, Edward was just a baby--but he was also the future king! 

Before you read on, take thirty seconds and just look. What is the very first thing you notice about how this baby is posed?

Now, I Spy...

I spy a scepter. That's the golden rod the baby is holding in one hand, a symbol that only kings and queens carry. Can you find which hand it's in?

I spy a raised hand. Look at Edward's other hand. It's open, palm forward, in a gesture of blessing, the kind you might see in paintings of saints or holy figures. Why do you think an artist would pose a baby that way?

I spy a stone ledge. There's a low wall, called a parapet, right in front of the baby. Artists used this kind of pose and ledge only for very important people, like royalty. Can you find where the ledge sits in the painting?

I spy tiny writing. Somewhere in this painting there's a long passage of text, in Latin, written by a poet named Richard Morison. It was meant to flatter Edward's father, King Henry VIII, and to remind everyone that Edward would be the next king. Can you spot the lettering?

One more thing to notice: this baby doesn't look like he's wiggling, crying, or reaching for a toy. Holbein painted him looking calm, upright, and composed, almost like a grown-up. Why do you think an artist would paint a baby that way instead of showing him acting like a baby?

What do you notice that we didn't mention? Tell us what you spy!