King Henry VII - Portrait

I wrote this for an assignment in my writing class to describe a work of art. My teacher said to use lots of descriptive adjectives ^_^ 

    Henry VIII is famous for his six wives. Hans Holbein the Younger made a portrait of this infamous king in 1540, when Henry VIII was on wife number four. In the background of the portrait are the words “anno etats svae xlix”, written in small golden letters, signifying that Henry VIII was fourty nine years old at the time. By then, his size had grown considerably.
    This portrait is entirely filled up with Henry VIII and his enormous, exquisitely ornamented, and finely detailed attire. Gold embroidery criss-crosses the front of his outfit and embellishes the mighty sleeves. An uncompromising velvet lays underneath the flashy gold. Set into the suit are opulent, dark jewels, large and numerous. Resting on his chest is a grand, thick, golden necklace, inlaid with pearls and the same dark jewels. A royal black fur vest doesn't get in the way of the details at all, rather, it brings out the colour of the rest.
    All of this attire simply magnifies the obvious power of King Henry VIII. He stands with commanding confidence. In the bottom right of the portrait hangs an ornamental sword. It is really not for practical use - just for show, but by the king's expression of determination and the way he clenches that glove in hand, you know that he wouldn't hesitate to send you to the executioner, who would do the dirty work for him, if you got in the way of one of his royal schemes.
    Yes, you can see it in his large, square figure and in his large, square face - this is a man who rules England! By his resolute countenance you know that he will have as many wives as he pleases.
    He has slight, fine, almost keen features - small, unassuming eyes, a tight little mouth, and eyebrows that are barely there, except near the end, above the ordinary nose, where they frown at you. Calm boldness is written across his face. Above is a long black hat decorated with three jewels and four strings of pearls, all inlaid with gold embroidery, and topped with a tufty, yellowish-grey crest running along the top and whirling down the left side. Below is a dark beard making his face square. The background consists of a mere solid, dark, rich green colour, so as to not attract attention away from the magnificent king.
    Everything portrayed in this portrait shows that Henry VIII is the opposite of timid. He will get his way, come whatever may.

The Canadian Monarchy

       Keeping Canada's constitutional monarchy is better for our country than becoming a republic. The Canadian monarchy maintains our national identity, keeps us unified and strong, is not more expensive then a republic, and is effective because it is non-partisan.

       First of all, our monarchy maintains our national identity, unity, diversity, and stability! Our system of government reflects Canadian heritage and history. The Queen is a key part of our Canadian heritage, and keeps our identity established. The monarchy unites our nation under the crown – all the different regions of Canada and all the political parties of Canada are united by the monarchy and the Queen! Our Queen is also the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, a very diverse group of countries. The Queen promotes diversity and co-operation between people from different places and backgrounds, both internationally and here in Canada. The monarchy is constant – our monarch is experienced, respected and unelected. While governments come and go, our monarchy will remain the same! This brings a higher level of stability to our government.

       Many republicans assert that the constitutional monarchy is a waste of money. That simply isn't true. According to a survey by the Monarchist League of Canada in 2009, the monarchy only costs each Canadian $1.53 per year. In comparison, the National Gallery of Canada costs $1.42 per person and the CBC costs Canadians $33 per person. The cost of the monarchy includes important engagements and state visits by the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors, looking after historical sites like Rideau Hall in Ottawa and La Citadelle in Quebec City, and the many different Canadian honours and decorations given to outstanding Canadians (for example, the Order of Canada). These are important duties that would be carried out whether Canada was a constitutional monarchy or a republic. Canada does not give any money to support Queen Elizabeth II or the royal family. A republic would likely be just as expensive – for example, a President would probably cost just as much as our Prime Minister and Governor General combined. The enormous cost to change our constitution and system of government to become a republic would negate any money possibly saved.

       Last but not least, the monarchy is best for Canada because it non-partisan. Our honourable, non-partisan Queen is the best choice for our head of state. She is a respected world-figure well known for her wisdom and regal grace. Monarchs are our best heads of state because all of their life they prepare to be King or Queen. Prime Ministers and Presidents, on the other hand, are merely partisan politicians. The Queen and her representatives in Canada (the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors) represent Canadians’ interests better because they are politically neutral. They make sure that our country is run fairly. They also unite all Canadians in allegiance to the crown, which is better than having a partisan President that may not even have the support of the majority of Canadians.

      The Canadian monarchy represents everything we stand for as a country – including peace, freedom, fairness, and democracy. Our constitional monarchy is the best form of government!