The ‘Ugly’ Wife: The Portrait That Tricked King Henry VIII

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This painting catfished a king.

This king who chose to marry this woman
because of this portrait.

But when they met in person
he was disappointed, to say the least.

So, what did the king see in this painting
that he didn't see in real life?

And, most importantly, how did he get
such impressive calves?

It's a tale as old as time,

picture a man, we'll call him Henry.

Henry finally decides to put himself
out there after years of being single.

He starts browsing potential matches
until one really catches his eye.

It's love at first sight
and he insists on meeting her.

But when he does
she's not what he expected.

Henry's in a tough spot but he knows
what he has to do,

marry her immediately.

Wait, what? This piece is called
Anne of Cleves

by Hans Holbein the Younger.

She's best known as The Ugly One

out of King Henry VII's six wives,

but what if I told you that's exactly
what made her the lucky one

Anne stands before a regal
blue background.

She's dressed in a rich red velvet gown
embroidered with gold fabric

and decorated with pearls and gemstones.

The square neckline of her dress
frames her necklaces

including a large black and gold cross
and two gold chains

and reveals a sheer high neck lace garment
underneath.

She faces in our direction,

letting us, letting Henry see her clearly.

Her hands are clasped in front of her,

showing off her many expensive gold rings.

Her hair is concealed beneath
an ornate golden headdress

dripping in pearls and gemstones

with a sheer linen cap
that frames her face.

Her heavy eyelids hang over her amber eyes

which look slightly down
and off to the side.

Her straight on pose paired
with her averted gaze and calm expression

makes her seem present
yet passive at the same time

and it looks like she might be smiling
ever so slightly.

This painting was recently
restored by the L in Paris

allowing us to see Anne
with the same vibrancy and detail

that Henry first saw her,
nearly 500 years ago.

This painting convinced him
to marry her,

a decision he'd soon regret.

The royalty is piping hot,
too hot to sip just yet.

So, while we wait for it to cool

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all right I think the tea has cooled
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down just enough now now it's time to
4:00
spill it this might not be a beautiful
4:03
love story but it's a wild ride buckle
4:06
up as we take a trip to England October
4:09
24th 1537 Henry VII's third wife Jane
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Seymour has just died from postnatal
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complications only days after giving
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birth to a baby boy by all accounts
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Henry was heartbroken he called Jane his
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true wife his most beloved wife High
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Praise from a guy who would end up with
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Six Wives total over his nearly 40-year
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Reign Henry VII had a habit of obsessing
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over women but when they inevitably fell
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short of his unrealistic expectations he
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didn't hesitate to get rid of them his
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first wife Katherine of Aragon held on
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the longest but after years without a
4:50
male Heir and with Henry's infatuation
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with one of her ladies in waiting and
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Bolin he decided he needed out Henry and
4:58
an secretly married before the analment