Henry VIII

Henry VIII, large cast bronze restitutional portrait medal, bust almost full-face, wearing broad-rimmed hat, collar of office and St George medal on riband, HENRICVS VIII DE GRATIA ANGLIA REX, 89.5mm (MI 49/46; Pollard 2007, 781; H & P, p. 145, pl. 29.2). A handsome medal, nearly extremely fine, pierced at top, scarce.

This portrait, which is derived from Holbein, is sometimes paired with that of Erasmus, taken from a bronze medal of 1519 by Quentin Matsys.

Provenance: Baldwin Auction, 24 September, 2013 (lot 5266).