Posted by jinja on June 17, 2012, 1:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Men in pearls"
That portrait of Henry VIII looks more like his father than like himself.
What a rather poignant picture of Charles I as a teenager! It has youthful optimism, and yet a hint of wistfulness that seems to foreshadow his fate. Quite different from his mature portraits.
Men indeed have historically worn elaborate jewels. The sociology of plainer dress would be interesting, though western men are still entitled to elaborate military dress and glitter.