Art Historian Discovers Missing Portrait of Henry VIII on Social Media

In a remarkable turn of events, British art historian Adam Busiakiewicz has identified a missing portrait of King Henry VIII after spotting it on social media. While scrolling through posts on X, Busiakiewicz noticed a painting with a distinctive arched top hanging on a wall, which he suspected to be one of the lost Tudor monarch's portraits. In a blog post, he noted that many portraits from the series had been dispersed at auction, with most remaining untraced. Busiakiewicz, who has previously made discoveries through social media, expressed his fascination with how platforms can serve as a tool for art research. He remarked, “Some people use it to watch cat videos... and then people like me just look at what people have hanging on their walls.” Following his discovery, Busiakiewicz and a colleague approached Warwickshire County Council to examine the painting, which they believe is part of the Ralph Sheldon commissions. The council confirmed that Busiakiewicz and his colleague, Aaron Manning, viewed the painting at Shire Hall and agreed on its significance. Although the identity of the artist remains uncertain, the work is attributed to the elusive figure known as The Sheldon Master. Acquired by the council in 1951, the painting's provenance is complicated, with gaps in its historical records. Busiakiewicz emphasized the importance of recognizing overlooked artworks, stating, “There’s no doubt that this is Ralph Sheldon’s painting of Henry VIII.”