Preliminary Drawings for Holbein’s Mural of Past English Kings

A stack of preparatory sketches and plans retrieved by Christophe from a clerk’s desk in the Austin Friars clerks’ room and corridor at Thomas Cromwell’s request. These drawings serve as reference material for Hans Holbein’s mural commission on the blank wall of the Austin Friars great hall, depicting past English kings. The sheets contain detailed sketches of monarchs, blending artistic craftsmanship with political propaganda. Cromwell examines them while commissioning Holbein, emphasizing his bid for legitimacy amid tense discussions of loyalty and hidden marriages. The group—including Wriothesley and Lady Margaret Howard (or Douglas, depending on context)—handles the drawings, highlighting their role in court intrigue and the intersection of art and power.

2 appearances

Purpose

Preparatory sketches and plans for painting a mural of England’s kings

Significance

Enables Cromwell’s dual commission of public art that enshrines Tudor authority in his home, blending his rise with royal symbolism while navigating private intrigues like Lady Mary’s pendant.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S2E2 · The Mirror and the Light Episode 2

The Artist as Weapon: Cromwell’s Dual Commission—Legitimacy and Loyalty in a Single Stroke

The preliminary drawings for Holbein’s mural serve as the physical manifestation of Cromwell’s commission to paint a mural of England’s kings on the blank wall of Austin Friars. These sketches are retrieved by Christophe from a clerk’s desk at Cromwell’s request, symbolizing the administrative machinery that supports Cromwell’s political and artistic ambitions. The drawings are a tangible link between Cromwell’s vision for legitimizing his rise and Holbein’s artistic execution, serving as both a practical tool and a symbol of Cromwell’s strategic maneuvering.

Before: Stored on a clerk’s desk in the corridor/clerks’ room, awaiting Cromwell’s request for Holbein’s mural commission.

After: Carried by Holbein as he leaves the Great Hall, now imbued with the specific parameters of Cromwell’s vision for the mural.

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S2E2 · The Mirror and the Light Episode 2

The Howard Conspiracy Unfolds: Cromwell’s Calculated Pivot from Art to Treason

The preliminary drawings for Holbein’s mural serve as a symbolic tool for Cromwell’s attempt to legitimize Henry VIII’s reign through artistic patronage. They are retrieved by Christophe and presented to Holbein, who measures the wall for the mural’s placement. The drawings represent Cromwell’s effort to use art as propaganda, depicting past kings to affirm Tudor legitimacy. However, their role in the scene is quickly overshadowed by Wriothesley’s revelation, which shifts the focus from artistic commission to political scandal. The drawings symbolize the tension between Cromwell’s reformist ambitions and the immediate threats posed by the Howard family.

Before: Stored on a clerk’s desk in the clerks’ room, awaiting Cromwell’s review for the mural commission.

After: Carried away by Holbein as sketches, now repurposed as preparatory material for a project that is temporarily sidelined by the political crisis.

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