The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.1488  Friday, 11 August 2000.

From:           Dana Shilling <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Thursday, 10 Aug 2000 11:49:32 -0400
Subject: 11.1479 The Ring of Royal Little Fingers
Comment:        Re: SHK 11.1479 The Ring of Royal Little Fingers

Lucia Setari wrote:

>Glancing through an illustrated book of history, I noticed that both
>Richard III and Henry VIII are portrayed as if they were slipping a ring
>off, or, more likely, on the little finger of their right hand.
>
>Can any of you tell me the meaning of this gesture?

I always assumed it meant that they were so nervous that they fidgeted
through the portrait sittings, and this characteristic gesture was then
recorded.

Dana Shilling

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