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Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon

1509–26

Not on view

Spectacularly complex in form and meaning, this set of prayer beads—known as a rosary—bears the Royal Arms of England as well as the tiny letters "He8" and "Ka," abbreviations for King Henry VIII and his first wife, who married in 1509.

Each of the small beads portrays one of the apostles, the twelve principal followers of Jesus, along with part of the text of the Apostles’ Creed (a standard affirmation of Christian belief), a figure from Hebrew Scripture, and a Christian subject thematically linked to an event from Hebrew Scripture.

Bead 1: Last Judgment; Judgment of Solomon
Bead 2: God in Majesty; Christ Child in Glory; Habakkuk Feeding Daniel in the Den of Lions
Bead 3: Annunciation; Nativity; Death of Isaiah
Bead 4: Ascension; Transfiguration; Murder of Amos
Bead 5: Resurrection; Death and Elijah Raising the Widow’s Son
Bead 6: Crucifixion; Entombment; David before the Ark
Bead 7: Members of the Church; Martyrdom of Jeremiah(?)
Bead 8: Descent and Harrowing of Hell; Death of Zachariah
Bead 9: Creation of the Heavens; Christ Child in the Sun; Moses Receiving the Tablets (Ten Commandments)
Bead 10: Baptism of Jesus; Pentecost

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Boxwood, Netherlandish

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

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This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Large Bead: Mass of Saint Gregory (upper), Virgin of the Apocalypse (lower)

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Large Bead: Naaman Bathing in the River Jordan

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Large Bead: Gehazi Entering a House

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Large Bead: Initials of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon

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Large Bead: Saint Matthew

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Large Bead: Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery

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Large Bead: Job

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Large Bead: Royal Arms of England

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Large Bead: Judas

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Bead 1: Last Judgment

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Bead 1: Hosea

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Bead 1: A Sibyl

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Bead 1: Judgment of Solomon

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Bead 1: Saint Matthew

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Bead 2: God in Majesty

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Bead 2: Habakkuk

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Bead 2: Habakkuk Feeding Daniel in the Den of Lions

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Bead 2: Saint John

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Bead 2: Christ Child in Glory

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Bead 3: Nativity

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Bead 3: Isaiah

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Bead 3: Death of Isaiah

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Bead 3: Saint James the Greater

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Bead 3: Annunciation

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Bead 4: Saint Bartholomew

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Bead 4: Ascension

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Bead 4: Amos

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Bead 4: Murder of Amos

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Bead 4: Transfiguration

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Bead 5: Elijah Raising the Widow's Son

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Bead 5: Death

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Bead 5: Saint Thomas

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Bead 5: Resurrection

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Bead 5: Jonah

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Bead 6: Saint Andrew

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Bead 6: Crucifixion

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Bead 6: Entombment

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Bead 6: David

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Bead 6: David before the Ark

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Bead 7: Martyrdom of Jeremiah (?)

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Bead 7: A Sibyl

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Bead 7: Saint Simon

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Bead 7: Members of the Church

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Bead 7: Jeremiah

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Bead 8: Zachariah

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Bead 8: Death of Zachariah

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Bead 8: Saint Philip

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Bead 8: Descent into Hell

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Bead 8: Hell

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Bead 9: Moses

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Bead 9: Moses Recieving the Tablets (Ten Commandments)

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Bead 9: Saint Peter

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Bead 9: Creation of the Heavens

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Bead 9: Christ Child in the Sun

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Bead 10: A Sibyl

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Bead 10: Baptism of Jesus

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Bead 10: Saint James the Lesser

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Bead 10: Pentecost

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Bead 10: Joel

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Cross: Crucifixion with the Four Evangelists

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Cross: The Four Church Fathers

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Title: Rosary of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon

Date: 1509–26

Culture: Netherlandish

Medium: Boxwood

Dimensions: Length: 18 9/16 in. (47.2 cm)

Classification: Sculpture-Miniature-Wood

Credit Line: The Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth, Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement

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Medieval Art and The Cloisters at The Met

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.