Why do you think King Henry VIII promoted portrait painting, and why do you think it became popular in this period (the mid-1500s)? How do you think portraits in Renaissance England compare to others we have seen throughout history? What impression is the artist trying to get across about his or her subject that might be different from other artworks we have seen?

Why do you think King Henry VIII promoted portrait painting, and why do you think it became popular in this period (the mid-1500s)? How do you think portraits in Renaissance England compare to others we have seen throughout history? What impression is the artist trying to get across about his or her subject that might be different from other artworks we have seen?