Coats of Arms with Corner Portraits of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving is packed with tiny shields and symbols. The centerpiece is a big, swirly coat of arms with a lion and a crown, surrounded by smaller shields arranged in neat rows. At each corner, there are small portraits of four people with fancy headpieces, and text labels their titles. The words "Semper Eadem" appear under the main crest—it’s Latin for "Always the Same." The whole thing looks like a family tree of British nobles, bishops, and lords, all showing off their symbols. Next, look up engraving to see how artists carved these lines into metal.
