Sir Thomas More, 1527

Hans Holbein the Younger, 1497/98-1543, German

Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum, NY in 2022 by the Frick, NY

 

 

 

Sir Thomas More (1478-1535, English) author of  ‘Utopia’, sainted by the Roman Catholic Church in 1935, was an important politician in the time of England’s Henry VIII; and a renowned scholar.

 

He held the office of Lord High Chancellor (1529-32) until three years before his death. 

 

He is seen here, wearing the livery of office of his penultimate appointment, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in a painting by Holbein who had brought a letter of recommendation from Erasmus himself.

 

Sir Thomas More condemned Henry VIII’s move away from the Roman Catholic Church.

 

He was very active in the banning of Lutheran texts and in the suppression of Tyndale’s translation of the Bible into English.

 

He never waivered from his allegiance to the Pope.  He refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy which made the king the head of the English church. 

 

His life ended far from the splendor of office when he was found guilty and beheaded for treason. 

 

His head, fixed upon a pike on London Bridge.  His body, placed in an unmarked grave.

 

 

 

Sir Thomas More, 1527

Hans Holbein the Younger, 1497/98-1543, German

Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum, NY in 2022 by the Frick, NY