Style Imitating Art…
Welcome to Style Imitating Art which comes from Salazar, Shelbee, and me. You can think of this series as fashion meets art museum! SIA challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. I am this week’s curator with an older portrait of a very lucky lady! I hope you enjoy this post, the information, and my interpretation.
How it works…
Every other Monday one of us selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. We then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, we share our outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. I chose this week’s art work for this round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why I chose it here. Please send your photo me by Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 by 10 pm EST. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
About the artist…
Unfortunately, the artist of this portrait is unknown. One of the painters who may have painted it is known as Master John. He was active from 1544-1545. One of the important things to know is that one of Henry VIII’s favorite artists, Hans Holbein, had recently died. That meant Henry was looking for a new artist to fill the void. Master John did paint other portraits of the Tudor household, including Katherine Parr. He was a British artist which made him very unusual. “His obsessive attention to costume detail, gold and silver leafing, and technique of painting in isolated parts rather than a cohesive whole are hallmarks of English art at the time (source).” The other artist to whom this portrait is possibly attributed is John Hayes. Try as I might, the only information I could find about him was that he was known to be at Hampton Court in 1544 and may have painted for both Princess Mary and Katherine Parr. The National Portrait Gallery lists the artist as unknown.
A little more…
Katherine Parr was Henry’s sixth and final wife. You may also see her name spelled Catherine Parr. Interestingly, Henry was her third husband! She would go on to marry again (Thomas Seymour) by whom she would have a daughter, Mary. Not much is known about Mary as Katherine would die of childbed fever on September 5, 1548. Her husband, King Edward VI’s uncle, was beheaded for treason on March 20, 1549. In 1550, Mary’s property (Katherine’s papers, jewels, etc) were restored to her, and that is, basically, the last we hear of Mary. She was approximately two years old. The painting below is also by an unknown artist and was painted circa 1545. This would have been during Katherine’s reign as queen. The queen in the painting, however, is not Katherine. It is Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife. Jane’s biggest claim to fame was presenting him with his long desired son and heir. Talk about a kick in the teeth! Katherine and Henry had been married for about two years when this painting was done! Well, no one said Henry was a nice guy, right?
Still more…
Katherine wasn’t my favorite queen (Anne Boleyn was), but she was feisty. At one point, Henry was just about ready to send her to the Tower, probably due to her Protestantism and the fact she’d published (how dare she) three books! She cajoled him into loving her enough not to do so. Katherine was also a good nurse as Henry was a (oh, let’s be honest) bloated old man who smelled really badly due to an open ulcer on his leg. There are some who believe he suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a jousting accident. Katherine was the first woman to publish a book under her own name in England and, even more importantly, in the English language. She also did a lot to foster a better relationship between Henry and his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. When she died, hers was the first Protestant funeral in England, Scotland or Ireland to be held in English.
About the art work…
The painting is oil on panel and measures 25 in. x 20 in. (635 mm x 508 mm). It was purchased with help from the Art Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, H.M. Government and Gooden & Fox Ltd, 1968. It is part of the Primary Collection at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The Primary Collection contains more than 12,700 portraits! I remember living my best life strolling through the National Portrait Gallery on a few different occasions, but I don’t remember seeing this portrait. I can remember seeing the iconic Elizabeth I and a couple of Henry. That’s not saying I didn’t see this one; I just don’t remember it. I think I need to go back to London for a visit, don’t you?
My interpretation…
I had thought to wear (for a third time, I think, on the blog) this red Regency Coverup (seen here). The damask print would have been luxe enough. The problem was I had no clue what to wear under it! So, I decided to look very closely at the painting, and I noticed the textures on Katherine’s front. I’m sure it wasn’t a dress as those Tudors loved themselves some layers! I thought these “Geometric Palm” wide leg crops (hahaha) from Talbots would do nicely for the texture/print. I bought these on a lark (and a super duper sale) not thinking I would like them at all. Of course, I love them! I decided to pull out more of the black for the background with this lacy shell from Banana Republic. It’s probably 10-12 years old by now. Then, to mimic the white lace of her collar and head covering, I chose the Haiku tunic from Gudrun Sjödén. I think the textures, embroidery, and lace worked rather well for this interpretation.
The Lewk!
I have no idea what kind of shoes Katherine Parr would have worn, but I bet they were bejeweled and sumptuous! Mine are just fun. These are the L’Artiste Carys sandals. I’m not linking to them because they’re not available anymore. The necklace was a Mother’s Day gift from my kids when they were all in college or high school. The earrings were a gift from Nigel when he realized I didn’t have any pearls. I still don’t have a lot, but these are real. I added the J Crew earrings for a bit of gold bling. You will probably have to look hard to find them! I attached them at the top of my tunic on each side, but I forgot so I didn’t make sure to have them showing!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I have a new photographer for the time being. She’s my oldest granddaughter, and I think you can probably tell we had a blast doing these photos! I am pretty sure she didn’t have any idea of what to expect, but I think they turned out well. She did suggest a certain pose. I wonder if you can guess which one! This is the backyard of my daughter’s new home. They are moved in but not entirely settled. It makes a pretty good backdrop, right? So, can we talk? Have you been to the National Portrait Gallery? Would you have panicked when you found out good old King Henry had signed a warrant for your arrest? Do you consider Katherine a pushover since she allowed Henry to put Jane in the family picture instead of her? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Don’t forget…
If you want to be included in the Style Imitating Art round up, send me your photo by 10:00 pm EST, Tuesday, June 3rd. Photos of everyone participating will appear on my blog on Wednesday, June 4th! If you’re interested in joining us, consider all of your options…the colors, the form, the feelings they evoke! Come on, give it a try! I think you’ll love it!
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
I love the history about Henry and his wife’s. So fascinating. Very nice, the backdrop and the outfit! Have a great start of the week.
Thanks, Nancy! They are just so intriguing, aren’t they? I hope you are doing well.
Oh to have the ear of the artist and find out what this really was all about.
Fun photos Marsha.
Thanks, Rosie! I think you’re referring to the family portrait. If so, I think they did whatever old Henry told them to do. I also think so many of the women look pretty much the same, don’t you?
I never thought about my favorite of Henry’s wives. I just think all of it was a big mess.
Nice outfit and it’s easy to tell you really had fun with the photo shoot! 😀
https://catswire.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Cat! We had a blast! Like I said, I was entranced with them since that 1970 series. I have read so many things about them. I think it’s probably because I could keep them in line, unlike some of the other royal European families!
Your photographer did a great job! That is a really lovely outfit that you pulled together.
Thank you, Joanne! I thought she did, too! We had so much fun!
Marsha, these pants are fabulous and your outfit is adorable! And how fun that your granddaughter is filling in as photographer! I am guessing she suggested the final pose. I love it! I do enjoy the history of royal families so this was an exceptionally fun challenge for me this week!
Shelbee
Thank you, Shelbee! I was really happy with the way the outfit came together as I really didn’t have a back up plan! We had an absolute blast taking the photos. Yes, that last pose was her suggestion. She didn’t think I’d use it! I’m glad you enjoyed the history of the Tudors. They are fascinating to me.
Your granddaughter is hired! Young people know how to work a camera, don’t they? Any you look so happy, I can tell you had a blast.
Your outfit looks fabulous too, great job once again!
Love the pants especially!
🩷Kellyann
The jeweled and scrumptious… Now there’s descriptions for shoes that always get me excited.
Did you read the historical fiction books about all of henry’s wives? I’m trying to remember that author and I think it was phillipa ??
They were fabulous
Xoxo
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I would love jeweled and scrumptious shoes, too! I have scrumptious ones, but not many are jeweled these days. Yes, I read almost every single one of the Philippa Gregory books about the Tudors. They are really good and quite factual.
Thanks, Kellyann! She really didn’t tell me to do much, but I think she was feeling a little strange. She did tell me her friends think she has a cool granny because all theirs do is bake cookies! Aren’t these pants just fabulous? I wasn’t sure I’d like them, but the print is so unusual.
You put together a great outfit for this challenge, Marsha, and the white lace tunic on top is just so perfect! I loved seeing how much fun you had during this photo shoot! I have to agree with Cat that I have thought about Henry and his wives as “a big mess” and haven’t thought about whether I have a favorite, but it was interesting to learn more about Katherine in your post.
Thanks, Sally! We really did have a good time. I have to tell you my smile was there in every photo! Yes, they were a huge mess, but I was and still am fascinated by them. I missed seeing “Six” when it was Indianapolis. Hopefully, I’ll be able to see it sometime.
I always enjoy the art history lesson! Love your outfit! It’s perfect for this painting! Your granddaughter did a wonderful job with your photos!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you, Jill! I love finding out new information though I knew quite a bit about Katherine Parr. I was really happy with the way these pants worked with the art. I will be sure to let her know she was a good fill in for Nigel!
When I was young and first learnt about the Tudors, I thought Katherine Parr was old! But as you say, she went on to marry again and died in childbirth. She was only in her early 30s. I love your interpretation. When I saw the red and white on IG I wondered if you’d chosen Katherine. My favourite was Anne of Cleeves.
Thanks, Gail! I always thought Anne of Cleves was dealt a raw deal, but, in reality, she may have come out the best of all of them. I always wondered what she really looked like. I also thought Katherine Parr was really old, but can you imagine having a child in your 30s in the 16th century?
Your new photographer did a great job! Love these outdoor shots and these amazing trousers! Of course Katherine was the favorite. Lol!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks, Kathrine! I’ll tell her. I think she had a good time. I just realized there were three Kathrine/Catherines! I hadn’t realized that before.
I lovvveeee this – the art and the outfit.
Thanks, Edi! I was happy with the outfit, and the art is amazing!
I always find Henry VIII’s history quite interesting I like Ann Bolyn too. When I think of that time period, I think, “So many beheadings, so little time). Fascinating about Katharine too. I love that you captured the red and the tapestry back in that time. It is so interesting to see different people’s interpretations. I need to read more about her. I love reading about history now, ( just didn’t as a kid).
Have a great week!
jess xx
Thanks, Jess! If you’re interested in reading more about the Tudors, Philippa Gregory has several historical fiction books on them. She does a very thorough job of researching, but, of course, they are fiction.
I love these pictures in the yard! So lighthearted and fun! And those pants: love the print on them and the contrast of red, white and black. So many options for tops! Interesting history! I actually don’t know much that period of time in England apart from the very general facts so this was interesting.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! We had a lot of fun. I wasn’t prepared to like these pants as much as I do. Of course, my first instinct was a denim jacket for everyday wear. But, I’m trying to break that habit! I’m glad you liked the history part of the post, too.
Hi, Marsha – I love how your granddaughter got you laughing out loud! You look great. It appears like she enjoyed being creative with her photography. It seems like it would be scary to get married to Henry VIII, since he beheaded everybody. After reading this post, I like Katherine Parr and I think she was smart to do whatever Henry wanted her to do in the composition of his photo. She seemed to know how to placate him. You’re perfect for a docent; you really share your interest – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! Oh, my goodness! I was afraid I was going to be awkward, and she was afraid she was going to be awkward. Instead, we just had a wonderful time. I was the third person in the family to hold her and spent the first two weeks of her life in Charleston, holding her until it was time for bed. She and her mom, my daughter, lived with us a couple of times when her dad was deployed. So, we’ve got a pretty strong bond. I think that’s what most people miss about the women who married Henry…they really didn’t have a choice once he’d laid eyes on them. Katherine Parr was probably the most intelligent, or, at least, she’d learned from her predecessors! Thank you for that..I’m currently working on my graduation tour. I have to be prepared with eight pieces and present at least five of them! It’s a lot, but I’m very excited about it!
Those pants are so cute! I didn’t know that about Katherine. That is so fascinating, especially about her being a published author 3 books!
Thank you, Laura! She published the first one anonymously but the other two under her own name. I think Henry was OK until his ministers told him he shouldn’t be!
I love those trousers, the print is fabulous! I’m fascinated by Tudor history and have read lots of books about that period. It was an awful time for women though! Thanks for linking!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thanks, Emma! They are really cool, aren’t they? I wasn’t prepared to like them as much as I do. I even ordered the matching top which is out of character for me. The Tudors were so fascinating from Elizabeth Woodville and her family up to Elizabeth I. Yes, it wouldn’t have been a good thing to be in Henry VIII’s court if you were halfway attractive!