From Paintings to Pin-ups: Sexying up the Tudors

Tudor history is now hot, and I mean HOT!

Here's a look at some recent screen incarnations:






Left: 'Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn', engraving from a design by William Hogarth.

Right: Jonathan Rhys Meyers (as Henry VIII) and Natalie Dormer (as Anne Boleyn) from The Tudors.

 

Left: Francis II and Mary Queen of Scots, by François Clouet.
Right: Adelaide Kane (as Mary Queen of Scots) and Toby Regbo (as Francis II) from Reign.

 

Left: Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, by An Unknown Artist.
Right: Henry Cavill (as Charles Brandon) from The Tudors.

 

Left: Elizabeth I, by An Unknown Artist.
Right: Cate Blanchett (as Elizabeth I) from Elizabeth - The Golden Age.

 

Left: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, by Nicholas Hilliard.
Right: Joseph Fiennes (as Robert Dudley) from Elizabeth.
 

Left: Anne of Cleves, by Barthel de Bruyn
Right: Jos Stone (as Anne of Cleves) from The Tudors.
 

Left: Catherine Howard(?), by Hans Holbein.
Right: Tamzin Merchant (as Catherine Howard) from The Tudors.
 

Left: Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, by An Unknown Artist. Center: Elizabeth I, by Nicholas Hilliard.

Right: Jamie Campbell Bower (as Oxford) and Joely Richardson (as Elizabeth I) from Anonymous.  

Left: Mary Queen of Scots, after Nicholas Hilliard.
Right: Samantha Morton (as Mary Queen of Scots) from Elizabeth - The Golden Age.

Left: Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, by An Unknown Artist.
Right: Hugh Dancy (as Robert Devereux) from Elizabeth I.
 

Left: Walter Ralegh, by An Unknown Artist.
Right: Clive Owen (as Walter Ralegh) from Elizabeth - The Golden Age.