Help create a LEGO® brick portrait of King Henry VIII at the Mary Rose! | The Mary Rose
Help create a LEGO® brick portrait of King Henry VIII at the Mary Rose!
The Mary Rose – Tudor England: Brick by Brick

Coinciding with May Half Term, the Mary Rose, in partnership with Bright Bricks, the UK’s premier independent LEGO brick building company, is giving LEGO brick enthusiasts the opportunity to recreate Holbein's portrait of Henry VIII in the form of a four-metre high LEGO brick mosaic between 26th May-3rd June 2018. The famous painting of the Tudor king, on display at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, continues to be one of the nation’s most cherished works of art and promises to provide a rich mosaic for LEGO brick fans.

Helen Bonser-Wilton, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Walker Art Gallery and Bright Bricks on this exciting project, which will see Holbein’s painting of Henry VIII transformed into a LEGO brick work of art. It’s bound to entertain visitors of all ages visiting the Mary Rose this May Half Term.”

The Mary Rose provides a unique and immersive journey into Tudor Life, with all the sights, smells and sounds of life in England in the reign of Henry VIII.  The stories of individual crew members are brought to life through their thousands of personal and professional possessions and visitors experience interactive displays, artefact handling and live action events.

The Mary Rose is rated as the Number One Attraction in Portsmouth on TripAdvisor, where comments such as ‘breathtaking’, ‘astonishing’ and ‘spellbinding’ are regularly received.

Young and old will help build this iconic image of one of England’s most famous monarchs and the king that commissioned the Mary Rose. Participation costs £3, giving you the opportunity to build an 8x8 studded LEGO brick square, which will then be inserted to build up the overall picture. You will receive a certificate of participation and a map showing the location of your LEGO brick square in the portrait. You will also get the chance to be entered a prize draw to win a LEGO Ship in a Bottle set worth £70. 

Sandra Penketh, Director of Art Galleries at National Museums Liverpool, said: “The Walker Art Gallery’s Henry VIII portrait is one of the most famous paintings in our collection. Younger visitors are often struck by Henry’s imposing presence and the fascinating story that surrounds the Tudor king. We’re looking forward to seeing how visitors to the Mary Rose reinterpret the iconic image in mosaic form.” 

And in the summer the Mary Rose will attempt to break a record with another LEGO brick mosaic. Visitors can participate in the build of a contemporary illustration of the Battle of the Solent, the confrontation between the fleets of France and England that led to the sinking of the Mary Rose in July 1545.  Built in sections, once complete it will measure 12 metres wide and 3 metres tall and will be the largest LEGO 1x1 brick mosaic ever assembled in the UK.

Tudor England Brick by Brick - Henry VIII

Places are limited, so pre-book to secure your place at www.maryrose.org/book-bricks, where you can also book your Mary Rose tickets at 10% online discount. 

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