TUDORWEEK2024 - DAY THREE: Best Tudor What If?
What if all of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York's children survived?
It shows Henry VII and Elizabeth of York united by an angel. Their children are shown to either side, the sons on the left behind their father and the daughters on the right behind their mother. Of the princes, only Henry was alive at the time the painting was made (c.1503-9); Edmund died aged 1 and Arthur died in 1502. Elizabeth of York died in 1503 following the birth of Princess Catherine, who only lived for a few hours. The eldest two princesses were alive, but Mary died very young. These figures thereby symbolise the progeny of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York and symbolise the new Tudor dynasty, rather than functioning as realistic portraits. The King and Queen kneel at prayer desks on which Henry VII has a prayer book, orb and sceptre, and Elizabeth of York has a prayer book. - Per description of the artistic work entitled 'The Family of Henry VII with St George and the Dragon c. 1503-9'.