Psalter of Henry VIII

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The Psalter of Henry VIII is a 16th century illuminated psalter that belonged to Henry VIII of England. The king commissioned the book in the early 1540s from the French illuminator Jean Mallard, who had at one time worked for Francis I. The psalter contains seven miniatures, amongst them scenes of Henry playing the harp with his jester Will Somers in attendance, and of the king reading in his bedroom. Two scenes show Henry as King David: in one killing Goliath, in the other in the role of a penitent. The book has marginal annotations made by the king.

[edit] References

• Weir, Alison (2002). Henry VIII: King and Court. Pimlico, 440. ISBN 0-7126-6451-3.