Katherine Parr's Giftbooks, Henry VIII's Marginalia, and the Display of Royal Power and Piety

2023/03/01 by Micheline White · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Historical Art and Culture Studies #Scottish History and National Identity #Historical Influence and Diplomacy

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/rqx.2022.445

Abstract

This essay examines deluxe copies of Katherine Parr's “Psalms or Prayers” (1544) distributed as gifts as part of Henry VIII's wartime campaign. The book promoted supplication for the king, and Parr used hand illumination to amplify its aesthetic and sacred character and to elicit political loyalty. I discuss two copies annotated by Henry, one previously unknown. I argue that the volumes shed new light on Parr's role as queen/author, on Henry's final illness, and on their transactional relationship: Parr's giftbooks advanced Henry's cause and enabled him to display exemplary piety; Henry's marginalia activated Parr's text and thanked her for her labor.

Citations

• TWO BOOK BILLS OF KATHERINE PARR

Discussions

• This is a few weeks old, but I'm delighted to share the news that my Ren Quarterly article on Katherine Parr, her giftbooks, and Henry VIII's marginalia was awarded the 2024 Raymond B. Waddington essa [bsky, 104 points, 13 comments]

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