Tag: Thomas Cromwell

Lady Tudors’ Fun Facts About Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Ep 5 Mirror

Welcome back to Court and to episode five of “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light”

This episode is called “Mirror”, and I can only think that is because what Henry saw in the mirror of Anne of Cleves’ eyes was something that shook him to the core.

This week I want to focus on Anne of Cleves and her marriage to Henry. I have always had a soft-spot for Anne of Cleves; I can only imagine what it felt like coming to a country where you did not know anyone, did not speak the language, and did not know any of the customs but were expected to be its Queen. Continue reading “Lady Tudors’ Fun Facts About Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Ep 5 Mirror”

Best of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 5 “Mirror”

Step inside the Tudor Dynasty with us as we handpick our favorite superlatives for each episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – from ‘who wore it best’ fashionable costume and top villain, to outstanding scene and perfect cinematography – and everything else in between! Up this week:

Episode 5: Mirror
USA Air Date: Sunday, April 20, 2025
Plot Summary: Cromwell’s marital diplomacy brings Princess Anne of Cleves to Henry’s Court. Will the alliance create a Protestant superpower in northern Europe, or has Cromwell’s luck run out?

Continue reading “Best of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 5 “Mirror””

The King’s Painter: Hans Holbein The Younger in Wolf Hall

“He’s a genius – all the information is in his paintings.” – Joanna Eatwell, Costume Designer, Wolf Hall

I had written about the authenticity of the costumes in Wolf Hall  as well as how much the series’ brilliant costume designer Joanna Eatwell values Hans Holbein the Younger’s work in achieving this authenticity here back in 2015.

It turns out that Eatwell digged into the paintings of Holbein for research. From Lucy Worsley’s interview with Eatwell in 2015:

He’s a genius – all the information is in his paintings.

He not only painted members of the court, he also painted merchants and even some of Henry’s courtiers and staff, so we have a complete cross-section which is incredibly important for a piece like this.

Eatwell argues, in an audio interview with the BBC Academy, Holbein is a “master in his craft” and his paintings are realistic but also propaganda. The paintings make a statement about the person in the painting which she calls the “photoshop” of the times.

Continue reading “The King’s Painter: Hans Holbein The Younger in Wolf Hall”

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 5 Mirror

“Have you not read it in The Book Called Henry which I wrote for you? Never say what the King will not do.”

– Thomas Cromwell to Rafe Sadler

In the penultimate episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, everything that could go wrong goes wrong for Cromwell, reminding us what the Imperial Ambassador Chapuys tells him in Episode 1 Wreckage:

“For when all is said, you are a blacksmith’s son. Your whole life depends on the next beat of Henry’s heart and your future on his smile or frown.”

We have seen Cromwell guiding the King’s thoughts in the direction that he prefers for a long time. However, as his tasks pile up, Cromwell is not able to spend as much time with the king as he would like. He is well aware of his vulnerability: that he has more enemies than friends in the court and there is a lot of conversation going on without him especially after Gardiner’s return from France. And the fever that keeps Cromwell away from Henry for some time gives Gardiner enough time to get closer to the King and poison him against Cromwell. Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 5 Mirror”

Lady Tudors’ Fun Facts About Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Ep 4 Jenneke

Welcome back to Court and to episode four of “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light”

This week I thought we would look at the birth of Henry’s son Edward, his christening, and the death of Queen Jane, along with other fun facts about this week’s episode “Jenneke”.

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The episode opens to Henry admiring an enormous portrait of himself (and Jane) that is on display at the Palace of Whitehall. Henry wants Holbein to make copies to send abroad, and copies of this portrait were made which is why this portrait is one of the most known of Henry. This portrait shows Henry at fine health, and we know that is not the case. This portrait projects what Henry wants the Court and the world to see, not necessarily the reality. Fun fact about this portrait: when Henry’s daughter Elizabeth becomes Queen in 1558, she prominently displays this portrait in her Presence Chamber. This would be the first thing a courtier would see when entering, reminding everyone who her father was and her lineage. She wanted to make sure each person in her presence knew she was a Tudor and the legitimate Queen. Unfortunately, the portrait was destroyed in a fire in 1698. Continue reading “Lady Tudors’ Fun Facts About Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Ep 4 Jenneke”