as an instrument of stability to have saved the country from the tyrannical rule of Richard. Moreover, it can be argued that Shakespeare’s crafting of Richard to be a cunning usurper played a significant role in Richard’s reputation as one of the most evil monarchs of all time. Richard’s skeletal deformation seen in paintings The portrayal of Richard III in art is equally as difficult as literature and history, (in terms of historical accuracy when determining what Richard was actually like). Such uncertainties are reflective of the profound depths of Tudor propaganda and how it was, in fact, successful in practically reconstructing and distorting Richard in a way that would help cement the Tudor position.
"croke backed, his left shoulder much higher than his right"
Earliest surviving portrait of Richard III – 1520 (35) From first glance, it is blatant Richard III’s representation of being a deformed hunchback is significantly underplayed in comparison to latter portraits of the king. His body ceases to be an ensemble reflective of the work of the likes of Thomas More and William Shakespeare, both of whom had rendered a defacing image of Richard. Thomas More’s comment on Richard’s appearance as “croke backed, his left shoulder much higher than his right”, is marginally reflected in the portrait with a slight unevenness of the shoulders, but not to the same extent as seen in latter 16th century portraits of the king during the Tudor occupation of the crown.The painting is kept at the Society of Antiquaries in London and is described as an almost ‘true representation’ as well as the most accurate painting of the king, being subject to the least amount of overpainting and alterations to his characteristics. Being one of the earliest paintings of Richard, it has been considered to be a preliminary version, produced during the king’s lifetime, estimated to have been painted between 1510 and 1540 (36).This is believed to be the painting with the closest likeness to Richard, and therefore can act as a more accurate reference when comparing his physical ailments, often subjected to exaggeration under the Tudor regime.
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