{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77338"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77338/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV6537/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV6537/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV6537","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AG5685","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB4922","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77338/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77338","accessionNumber":"3337","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"The Apotheosis of Henry VIII","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This highly finished drawing may have been a preparatory design for an engraving (an image made by cutting lines into the surface of a flat piece of metal, inking the plate and then transferring the ink held in the lines on to a sheet of paper), but this is not certain. Some think that it was a design for an arch for a triumphal procession, though there is little evidence for this. The meaning of the subject is uncertain, though it seems to be an allegory referring to Henry VIII (1509-1547) during the last years of his reign. It is clear, however, that the artist, Robert Pyte (died about 1552), was familiar with the classical-influenced work of the Italian architect and theorist Sebastiano Serlio (1475-about 1553 or 1555). The frieze of the second storey and the panelled attic storey above it are directly copied from  folio 62v of  Book IV of Serlio's treatise on architecture, which was first published in 1537.<br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>The design is drawn in pen and ink with wash on vellum, which is a fine parchment prepared from the skin of calf, kid or lamb. Vellum was commonly used in Britain at this time, although it was being surpassed by the use of paper. Made from wood pulp, paper was better for printing uses and cheaper than vellum.<br><br><b>People</b><br>The drawing is inscribed 'Robertus Pyte' and bears the monogram 'IS'. This is probably Robert Pyte, who was an engraver to the Royal Mint from the early 1540s. He was chief engraver from 1550 until his death in 1552.","physicalDescription":"Pen and ink and wash drawing on vellum","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Pyte, Robert","id":"A8763"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"probably"},{"name":{"text":"Pytt, Robert","id":"AUTH331106"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":"The maker is catalogued as 'Robert Pytt' in Anthony Wells-Cole, 'Art and Decoration in Elizabethan and Jacobean England'."}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and wash on vellum","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AV6537","2006AG5685","2017KB4922"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WS","id":"THES49603"},"free":"","case":"R","shelf":"98","box":"L"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1546","earliest":"1541-01-01","latest":"1550-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"67.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"45.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 12/07/1999 by sp\nObject mounted in card mount and framed (wood and glass) max depth will be 4cm. Some cockling to surface of paper means a slightly deeper mount than normal.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Robertus Pyte'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"ink","method":"signed","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Maker's identification","note":"Maker's identification; signed; ink"}],"objectHistory":"Probably designed and drawn in England by Robert Pyte (died about 1552)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Henry VIII in the setting of a triumphal arch, representing the apotheosis of Henry VIII, design for an engraving, probably designed and drawn in England by Robert Pyte, ca. 1546","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"pp. 151-3","free":"Elizabeth Cleland and Adam Eaker,with contributions by Marjorie E. Wieseman and Sarah Bochicchio <u>The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England</u> , Yale University Press, 2022. ISBN: 978-1588396921"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"architecture","id":"AAT54156"},{"text":"figures","id":"AAT189808"},{"text":"columns","id":"AAT1571"},{"text":"putti","id":"AAT250465"},{"text":"sculpture","id":"AAT47090"},{"text":"arches","id":"AAT994"},{"text":"fantastic architecture","id":"AAT67141"},{"text":"ewers","id":"AAT45666"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"classicism","id":"AAT56513"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThe exact purpose of this highly finished drawing is unknown. It may record a temporary arch erected at court or it may be preparation for an engraving. Its details were based on the latest Italian architectural books. Inscriptions celebrate the King at the end of his reign as the all-powerful commander of church and state.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["3337"],"accessionNumberNum":"3337","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP8083","2019LP1515","2019LV6377"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-25","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}