Welcome to On the Tudor Trail, Anthony! Please tell us about yourself and your background?
Thank you for having me Natalie! I’m excited to be talking to you today! I’m based near Birmingham in the west Midlands of England. I work in retail, but I’m a freelance artist during my spare time, mainly painting portraits and producing master copies including Tudor era portraits. It can be a good platform to practice with oil paints as I’ve only been using them for about a year but I’m enjoying the experience. Also, in my spare time I love reading history books and visiting historical sites like all of us here.
What sparked your love of history?
I always loved history at school and I can remember as a child learning about the Tudors and seeing those iconic portraits of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I in books. The images stuck with me until a few years ago when I delved right into the period properly after watching Elizabeth R.
When did you realise that you wanted to become an artist?
I absolutely adored Art from such a young age but when going to college to study it, I felt unsure what my artistic direction would be. Sadly, I didn’t head for university, but I did various projects and met some amazing, inspiring artists who helped me discover more about myself.
You have drawn and painted many Tudor personalities over the years. Do you have a favourite?
My favourite Tudor is Elizabeth I, although to draw or paint I would say Henry VIII as I find his personality really shines through in his portraits with his glare and posture, so trying to copy that is a fun challenge!
Tell us a little about the process you follow when creating miniatures.
Painting a miniature can be a tricky, but it’s not too time consuming and you rarely need much paint. Just a very delicate brush and close eye observation in a perfectly lit environment. Maybe some classical or even calming Tudor music will set the mood as well!
I usually start with a faint sketch of the sitter and then fill in the light colours like the skin tones, then move on to any bold colours like dark brown or red whether it’s part of the head or body. Once dried I paint the tiny hard details like eyebrows and lips which is the tricky part depending on how big the miniature is. Lastly, I paint the background.
Name three artists who inspire you?
Hans Holbein will always be one of my favourites and perhaps THE favourite as he inspired me step into the art world more and appreciate portraiture in such a broad way. His work astounds me. Anthony van Dyck is another favourite, just the sheer size of some of his works is amazing. I recommend seeing his pieces in the flesh. The last I think is Thomas Gainsborough, I like that he was free with his brush and brought beauty to life with scenery around his sitters, as it was a very elegant and romantic period during his time as a painter.
Favourite Tudor portrait?
My favourite Tudor portrait doesn’t exist anymore but I know It would have been the Whitehall Palace mural. Apparently, whoever saw it felt completely intimidated by Henry VIII standing there looking straight out at those who dared to gaze on him. Another favourite is the Jane Seymour portrait by Holbein which I saw in Vienna. I remember just how sharp and beautiful it looked. Lastly, I would say the Darnley portrait of Elizabeth I. I’ve seen it several times in London, and each time it still gives me such a thrill. I would love to make a master copy one day!
What are three of your favourite historic sites to visit and why?
Of all the places I’ve visited, Hever Castle is one of my favourites for its sheer beauty and location. I also felt Anne Boleyn’s personality breathe through its walls, which felt magical. I also love Hampton Court Palace, even just entering and coming up to the gatehouse is a truly mesmerising experience.
I must say my favourite Tudor location, though, is Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. The long gallery is one of the best Tudor rooms ever in my opinion!
What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
One of my favourite childhood memories was going to Tamworth Castle with my school and feeling very scared in the cold dark rooms like the “haunted bedroom”. But when you are with 20 plus children, it can also be quite funny!
Where can people find out more about your work?
All my work can be seen on my Instagram account: anthony111isevilok and if anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Thank you for joining me On the Tudor Trail!
Thank you so much Natalie for inviting me!
Love what you see? In addition to lots of other goodies, when you join the Talking Tudors patron family and pledge $5, you’ll receive a scan of an original pencil drawing by artist Anthony Hillman, based on Hans Holbein’s portrait of a woman thought to be Amalia of Cleves. Pledge $10 and you’ll receive a scan of the portrait of Amalia and a scan of Anthony’s drawing of Lady Lister, also based on a Holbein drawing. Pledge $25 or more and you’ll receive all three portraits pictured, the last is based on Holbein’s portrait of an unknown Tudor gentleman. Just print, frame and enjoy!
Go on, join the family!
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