Richard III and Heinrich IV

[transemacabre]

It rather amuses me that the recent reconstruction of Richard III's face, based on his skull, means that Aneurin Barnard of The White Queen is likely the most accurate Richard III, at least looks-wise, in media history.




More obscurely (and unjustly so), the emperor Heinrich IV was the closest thing the medieval Holy Roman Empire had to a Caligula. He was memorably described by the chronicler Ekkehard as "arch-pirate and heresiarch and apostate and persecutor of souls". Bishop Erlung of Wuerzburg also tells us that he had "piercing" eyes like that of a lynx; all the more striking a detail when you consider what a Eurasian lynx's eyes look like:



Although rare, humans can have amber eyes of similar color, like so:



We also know, from analysis of Heinrich's skeleton and skull in 1900, that he stood at least six feet tall, had broad shoulders, an athletic body, "a sharpely chiseled, narrow face", large eyes, and "a finely-shaped mouth"; together with those eyes, he must've been a handsome man. No wonder Matilda of Tuscany and Pope Gregory VII wanted to see him grovel before them half-naked! Heinrich's mother Agnes of Aquitaine was from a good-looking family -- her brother was Eleanor of Aquitaine's great-grandfather -- so likely he inherited his looks from her.

Comments

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

You're right about the wee lad in The White Queen: he has finer features (not such a jutting chin) and is darker in colouring, but is definitely the best screen Richard. Age-wise, too, he was better than most, as he was playing him from teens to his death. Usually he gets played by people old enough to be his father. (A pity the production sucked as much as the books...)

Actually, looking at the thick dark hair and the eyes and cheekbones, I think young Aneurin would make a good Julian (thinking of the Musée de Cluny statue likeness). Wonder if he suits a beard?

Re: Heinrich IV: Yeah, he sounds like a stunner. The Pope and Matilda must've enjoyed getting an eyeful of that in his undies... And his great-grandsons were the Montferrat boys, who were also not lacking in the eye-candy department.

[transemacabre.livejournal.com]

I would say the only flaw to Richard III's features (I don't mind the jutting chin) is that his eyes were a bit too close together. Its kind of funny that they -- unintentionally -- cast an actor who at least resembled Richard so closely! Aneurin comes closer than the castings for some 20th century people that we KNOW for a fact what they look like (like Donna Summers as Billie Holiday).

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

When you see the Richard reconstruction in the flesh, so to speak, the eyes being close together isn't so noticeable. (It's something that seems to go with large noses, I think) But as you walk round him, see him from different angles, it's not what you really notice. The chin and nose are a bit too strong in full profile, but otherwise – They fit with the overall physiognomy, the good cheekbones as well. It's a very masculine face. From 3/4 angles especially (as per his portraits), he's a handsome boy.

Aneurin's a wee cutie. I could only endure the last episode of The White Queen: he was almost the only person who looked recognisably like his character. (Elizabeth of York was quite good, too; but the rest?!!)

Diana Ross played Billie in Lady Sings the Blues. I agree – she's attractive, but not a good match for the role. (Or did Donna play her in something else?)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

The lynx is gorgeous, too: beautiful eyes and fur. Nice kitty...