Here, he's the man of the hour and has been framed in this original, one of a kind 14"w x 16"h x 2 1/2"d mixed media assemblage/collage piece. I was inspired by his true life history and his amazing kingly outfit which he chose to wear to have this intricate portrait painted so long, long ago. Above his regal head I have placed a large silver keyhole which swivels open to reveal a deeply marbled crimson handmade paper upon which rests a small golden cross. Henry, what a charming fellow, was quite fond of the guillotine for his capital punishment, so I thought it fitting he should get to have something so reminiscent of one just above his own head. Behind the king is a lovely swath of floral printed tissue paper which I have lovingly aged using dye inks and acrylic paints. Upon this I have rested a burgundy, diamond shaped bit I cut from a discontinued wall paper book salvaged from my old job at Home Depot 8 years ago.
I felt our royal subject needed a veil to be lifted away from his megalithic persona (a few centuries earlier might have saved a few of his wives' lives...aah, hind sight), so I have placed a rich piece of black velvet (a piece cut from my old college photography backdrop) to his highness' left, which I shaped and hand stitched into a billowing drape with lovely coppery ribbon trim along the bottom. This lush curtain hangs about 3" below the edge of the canvas frame. It appears as though an unseen hand is pulling it aside to reveal the king's true self. Very mysterious! I have surrounded our subject (I don't supposed he'd appreciate being called a subject, would he?) with lovely bits of hand stained cheesecloth and antiqued golden buttons, which bear a striking resemblance to those embellishing his royal sleeves and chest...perhaps he is where their design originated?
Below our framed gent, embedded in beeswax, are words I clipped from one of my vintage Bibles, "Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory." Oh Prophesy...
Finally, as this is a portrait of a royal personality, I crowned the canvas with a very gorgeous, rusted, hole-y piece of iron I found embedded in the sand while walking my Siberian Husky along the twinkling Bitterroot River one spring after the flooding of the snow melt run-off had ended. To this made by nature metal piece, I affixed some lovely amber colored handmade glass beads for a bit more shimmer and royal sparkle. (These beads were some of the extra bits from my enchanted 2005 forest mountain-top wedding.)
I love this piece and have enjoyed having it hang on my own wall. It has inspired me to learn more about King Henry VIII of England, and all those historic figures we so often think lived only in faery tales. It is amazing how many interesting conversations have been started due to this one of a kind art piece. I would love to send it on to find a place on your wall, or to stand, as only a king can, on your window sill, or book case. Who knows where it might take you?
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This piece will be securely wrapped and shipped to the address you have listed with Etsy unless you specify otherwise in a "Note To Seller" during checkout. Ships via USPS Priority Mail unless you request Express Mail in a message to me via "Contact Seller" (please request this prior to purchase so I can give you an accurate quote).
**If you are gifting this item and would like it shipped directly to the lucky recipient, please include the complete name and shipping address of the recipient, as well as the complete "To:" and "From:" names as you would like them to appear on a coordinating handmade gift tag I will make and include free of charge.
This special art piece will be signed and dated on the front and reverse.
Copyright 2009 Glory Wogsland
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