Furnished with his handwritten notes: the magnificent prayer book of King Henry VIII of England with wonderful trompe-l'oeil miniatures
King Henry's Prayer Book
London (United Kindgom) — Circa 1540–1541

King Henry's Prayer Book
London (United Kindgom) — Circa 1540–1541
The royal prayer book by the French miniaturist Jean Mallard is lavishly adorned in the Trompe-l'oeil technique
The gorgeous miniatures have a continuous, unmitigated reference to King Henry VIII, who appears several times
Additional priceless idiosyncrasies include countless handwritten notes by the King in the margins

King Henry's Prayer Book
David vs. Goliath
One of the most famous miniatures in this manuscript is a 16th century propaganda piece from the English Reformation: it shows King Henry VIII as the biblical David facing off against Goliath, who represents Pope Paul III. The Pope who excommunicated the English King is dressed in a splendid Grecian cuirass and greaves that glimmer with gold leaf. He looks distractedly at the tip of his massive pike as Henry/David, dressed as a 16th century prince, prepares to deliver a fatal blow.
King Henry's Prayer Book
- Gebetbuch König Heinrichs VIII.
Short Description
The private prayer book of King Henry VIII of England is one of the most beautiful and intimate objects associated with his person. A work by the French miniaturist Jean Mallard, the payer book’s 360 pages are lavishly adorned. The gorgeous miniatures have a continuous, unmitigated reference to the King, who even appears himself several times! Additional priceless idiosyncrasies include countless handwritten notes by the King on the margins of the text pages that can still be read! These demonstrate the significance that the gorgeous manuscript had for Henry VIII as a private religious devotional book and journal.
King Henry's Prayer Book
The private prayer book of King Henry VIII of England is one of the most beautiful and intimate objects associated with his person. A work by the French miniaturist Jean Mallard, the payer book’s 360 pages are lavishly adorned. The gorgeous miniatures have a continuous, unmitigated reference to the King, who even appears himself several times! Additional priceless idiosyncrasies include countless handwritten notes by the King on the margins of the text pages that can still be read! These demonstrate the significance that the gorgeous manuscript had for Henry VIII as a private religious devotional book and journal.
A French Work of Art for the English King
The elegant prayer book of King Henry VIII is stored today in the British Library in London. The manuscript is a special treasure from the King’s private library. The prayer book, originating 1540–1541, is a work by the significant French master Jean Mallard. Mallard was employed, inter alia, by the French King Francois I. At the behest of the English King, he created a true gem of a private prayer book, which glimmers with seven miniatures and gorgeously-designed pages of text. The prayer book was made uniquely and exclusively for the English King and has direct references to his person.
Henry VIII as the Biblical King David
The miniatures on the altogether 360 parchment pages amaze with their masterful execution. Mallard presents himself here as a master of the Trompe-l`oeil technique whenever he imitates a wood frame or a small arrangement of fruit. Adorned with ornamental garlands, these frames contain scenes with biblical content or depictions of Henry VIII himself. One miniature shows the King in a splendid palatial room – his bedchamber – sitting on a stool and intently reading the book of hours. An additional depiction can be found with Henry VIII playing the harp, an allusion to King David, with whom Henry sits in a row. A particularly beautiful miniature finally shows Henry VIII in the battle of David versus Goliath: Henry as a small David fights against the huge Goliath with the gestalt of Pope Paul III, who had excommunicated the English King.
A Glimpse into the Innermost Thoughts of the King
The gorgeous pages of text were in no way subordinate to the miniature pages in King Henry’s Prayer Book, but rather were designed with just as much effort. Gloriously colorful and varied initials adorn the texts: An additional idiosyncrasy makes the prayer book a unique artifact: over 100 handwritten notes in the margins. These are private annotations and records by the King, who made notes while he read. They grant an insight into the innermost thoughts of the King, who apparently concerned himself thoroughly with the Psalms and religious thoughts of the prayer book.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Gebetbuch König Heinrichs VIII.
- Size / Format
- 360 pages / 20.5 x 14.0 cm
- Origin
- London (United Kindgom)
- Date
- Circa 1540–1541
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 7 miniatures and hundreds of coloured capitals
- Artist / School
- Jean Mallard
- Previous Owners
- King Henry VIII
Old Royal Library
George II

King Henry's Prayer Book
Patron Portrait
King Henry VIII of England is depicted here as King David reading in his bed chamber, an allusion also made in the dedicatory letter by Jean Mallard, the artist responsible for this Renaissance masterpiece. Like David, Henry VIII was an accomplished musician and there were certainly other parallels between the two, e.g. the story of Bathsheba.
This miniature makes wonderful use of perspective, particularly the design of the red-green-black floor tiles and the columns leading to a door to the outside. Henry is seated in a splendid blue chair, richly dressed in a thick coat with cloth of gold sleeves. He looks up from his book to gaze at the beholder, exhibiting his impressive calves, for which he was famous.
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „King Henry's Prayer Book“
King Henry's Prayer Book
- Publisher
- The Folio Society – London, 2009
- Limited Edition
- 980 copies
- Binding
- Red velvet binding with silver-gilt corner pieces and two clasps; gilt edges.
- Commentary
-
1 volume (96 pages) by James P. Carley
- More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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