Cromwell's Great Bible Switch

Historian Eyal Poleg, author of the forthcoming A Material History of the Bible, England 1200-1553 (September 13 in the USA from Oxford University Press), describes some changes he and another researcher found in the title page of two specially prepared, hand-colored editions of Henry VIII's The Great Bible commissioned by Thomas Cromwell in 1538. Cromwell's role in the dissemination of this English translation changed from the edition prepared for use in churches throughout England and these two special copies, one of which Cromwell presented to Henry VIII:

In the original black-and-white design, Cromwell is affiliated with distributing the Bible to the laity – his coat of arms is in the middle of the page, below the figure whose features resemble Cromwell, handing the Bible (inscribed verbum dei, or “the Word of God”) to lay nobility. He mirrors Cranmer’s image, on the other side of the page, distributing a similar book to the clergy. This accorded with Cromwell’s central role in lay administration, as with his reformed leaning and his support for the printing of the Great Bible. In this image, then, Cromwell is on the level below the King and positioned in the middle of the page.

In the painted version of the title page, on the other hand, Cromwell is moved up a level and transformed into the person receiving the book from Henry’s left hand. This serves two purposes. It enhances the affinity between Cromwell and Henry, placing them next to each other. It also renders Cromwell in a more passive position, receiving the book from Henry rather than actively distributing it. Given Henry’s ambivalence towards the lay readership, this was a much less hazardous position. The careful and extensive modifications of the title page demonstrate Cromwell’s political prowess and his ability to read the political map and manipulate the visual image accordingly.

As the article continues, Poleg discusses other images in the presentation title pages, including the addition of Jane Seymour instructing children who exclaim "Vivat Rex!" and Richard Rich, Speaker of the House of Commons and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations at the time.

Please read the rest at the well-illustrated article on MERCATORNET. 

One question I have is if Cromwell had commissioned these presentation Bibles, wouldn't his face have been there from the beginning, as part of the commissioned design? 

Whose face is under Cromwell's? Was Rich at the top with Henry? Whom else would Cromwell have depicted at Henry VIII's left hand? Was Cromwell originally on the second level handing the Bible to the laity?

Poleg and the article's co-author Paola Ricciardi promise: "We plan to publish our research results in full later this year."