The works of Boethius had a profound influence on Thomas More, both in his personal life and in his writings. The lives and circumstances of the two politicians/philosophers shared many similarities as well - the two men were trusted advisors to their kings, and both were eventually sentenced to death by the man whom they had served. Beyond coincidences, this connection is rendered visible following an analysis of the familial portrait of Thomas More and his family, originally painted by Hans Holbein, and locating the various Boethian themes that can be found within the work. David R. Smith has called this image a "counter-portrait" as the painting offers a set of intellectual parodies that are produced by contradicting certain pre-conceived expectations. My work will make a more specific claim that this familial portrait of the More household is not only immersed in Boethian themes, but this "counter-portrait" presents a series of active visual contradictions that run counter to Boethian reasoning, creating parodies in the process.
