“The family of Henry VIII: an allegory of the Tudor succession”. Painting by Lucas de Heere. England, 1572. [2580×1920]

Collection of the [National Museum of Wales](https://museum.wales/collections/online/object/41bb6c94-b7f3-3caf-ad10-d63cb2935df6/The-family-of-Henry-VIII-an-allegory-of-the-Tudor-succession/) (Amgueddfa Cymru) but currently on [long term loan in Sudeley Castle](https://sudeleycastle.co.uk/news/allegory-tudor-succession-painting).

Figures from left to right:

1. **Mars** with a shield and jousting lance
2. **Philip II** of Spain in Spanish black
3. **Mary I of England** in 1550’s fashion with a bough of 3 Tudor roses
4. **Henry VIII of England** in 1530’s fashion with scepter, Garter necklace, & a Sword of Justice passed towards…
5. **Edward VI of England** in 1540’s fashion, kneeling down and almost diminutive
6. **Elizabeth I of England** in contemporary 1570’s fashion hand in hand with…
7. Pax (**Peace**) trampling down a sword & Mars’s aforementioned weapons, &
8. Abundantia (**Plenty**) with a bared breast and an overflowing cornucopia

There are 2 inscriptions in this work:

* THE QVENE TO WALSINGHAM. THIS TABLET SENTE + MARKE OF HER PEOPLES AND HER OWNE CONTENTE.

Modern English: From Her Majesty the Queen [Elizabeth I] to [Francis] Walsingham, this painting has been gifted as a token of gratitude from Her Majesty and her subjects.

Context: As Francis Walsingham was Elizabeth’s chief spymaster, with his skills he led the charge in uncovering the [1571 Ridolfi plot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridolfi_plot), hence her royally commissioned thank-you gift. Many thanks to [this BBC page](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/f3H9kwwJ3YKVphpbb8stK6/transcript-shakespeares-restless-world-programme-4) for providing the context for the inscription.

* A FACE OF MVCHE NOBILLITIYE LOE IN A LITTLE ROOME.
FOWR STATES WITH THEYR CONDITIONS HEARE SHADOWED IN A SHOWE
A FATHER MORE THEN VALYANT. A RARE AND VERTVOVS SOON.
A ZEALVS DAVGHTER IN HER KYND WHAT ELS THE WORLD DOTH KNOWE
AND LAST OF ALL A VYRGIN QVEEN TO ENGLANDS IOY WE SEE SVCCESSYVELY TO HOLD THE RIGHT AND VYRTVES OF THE THREE

Modern English:
A noble face lies in this room of Whitehall / Four personages with their characteristics all shown here
[Henry VIII] a father as upright as he was valiant / [Edward VI] the precious and long-desired son of Protestantism
[Mary I] a zealot daughter of Roman Catholicism, an evil known to all mankind
And finally, [Elizabeth I] the Virgin Queen, delight of all the people of England
She who successfully holds the True Way and Virtues of her father and brother

Anyone who knows their world history need neither further context or explanation…

As an aside, there exists a near similar but later copy to this artefact which is [currently in the Yale Center for British Art](https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:168).

For a good understanding on the comparison of the two paintings and further explanation on allegorical tableaus, [this article from The York Historian](https://theyorkhistorian.com/2024/11/04/a-comparison-of-the-an-allegory-of-the-tudor-succession-paintings/) is of great assistance.