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King Henry VIII watching archery contest
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King Henry VIII watching archery contest
Henry VIII and one of his wives attend an archery contest at Shooters Hill, London.
circa 1530
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Media ID 7138645
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10111344
1530 Archery Attend Contest Sees Viii Wives
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this image from the annals of British history, King Henry VIII and one of his six wives, elegantly attired in the fashion of the early 16th century, engage in the lively atmosphere of an archery contest held at Shooters Hill, London, around the year 1530. The monarch, renowned for his passion for hunting, hawking, and other chivalric pursuits, appears deeply engrossed in the competition, his intense gaze fixed on the distant target. Henry VIII's regal presence is accentuated by his sumptuous attire, consisting of a richly embroidered doublet, hose, and mantle, all adorned with the Tudor rose and other heraldic symbols. His wife, whose identity remains a subject of debate among historians, wears an elegant gown, likely of velvet or silk, with a high-necked bodice and a voluminous skirt. Her hennin headdress, a popular style among the nobility of the time, adds an air of elegance and sophistication to her appearance. The contestants, all clad in the livery of their respective guilds or noble houses, line up along the hillside, their bows poised and ready to release their arrows. The crowd, a mix of nobles, merchants, and commoners, eagerly watches the proceedings, their faces expressing a range of emotions from excitement and anticipation to amusement and disappointment. The verdant landscape of Shooters Hill, with its rolling hills and wooded areas, provides a picturesque backdrop to this scene of royal entertainment and communal sport. The archery contest, a favorite pastime of the Tudor court, not only served as a means of physical exercise and recreation but also as a way to strengthen social bonds and demonstrate the monarch's connection to his subjects. This evocative photograph, captured by Mary Evans Picture Library from their extensive collection, offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Henry VIII and his court, a time of grandeur, pageantry, and the pursuit of noble endeavors.
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