Portrait of Master Crewe as Henry VIII

Reynolds's Portrait of Master Crewe as Henry VIII from 1775, in Tate Britain, is one of his most charming "fancy pictures"—portraits of children in historical or literary costume. The painting depicts the young son of John and Frances Greville, Baron and Baroness Crewe, dressed as the famously portly Tudor king, creating a humorous contrast between the child's innocence and Henry VIII's fearsome reputation. These child portraits in historical dress reflected the eighteenth-century enthusiasm for masquerade and theatrical performance.

Reynolds renders the child in miniature Tudor royal costume with both precision and gentle humor. The rich reds and golds of the historical costume create a warm, decorative effect while the child's wide-eyed expression provides a charming counterpoint to the weighty historical associations.