Henry was spending vast sums to decorate the 23-acre (93,000 m2) warren of residences he had seized after the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey.

The majestic presence is conveyed through Henry's aggressive posture, standing proudly erect, directly facing the viewer.

The painting also shows Henry as young and full of health, when in truth he was in his forties and had been badly injured earlier in the year in a tiltyard accident.

[3] Henry recognized the power of the image Holbein created, and encouraged other artists to copy the painting and distributed the various versions around the realm, giving them as gifts to friends and ambassadors.

The many copies made of the portrait explain why it has become such an iconic image, even after the destruction of the original when Whitehall Palace was consumed by fire in 1698.

This was used to make an outline of the design on the wall, by pricking holes along the main lines and pushing powdered soot through.

Most notably it shows Henry standing in a more traditional three-quarters view rather than the final and iconic head-on position.

Also surviving is a much smaller half-length portrait of Henry by Holbein that is today in the collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.

[6] The highest quality, and best known, copy is that currently in the collection of the Walker Art Gallery (illustration), which may have been commissioned by Edward Seymour, Jane's brother.