From the artist's life
Holbein's The Ambassadors hides a distorted skull that snaps into focus only when viewed from the side — a famous anamorphic memento mori.
Source: Wikipedia / WikimediaRenaissance
Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497–1543) was the supreme portraitist of the Northern Renaissance and court painter to Henry VIII. His precise, penetrating likenesses are our window onto Tudor England.
Holbein set the standard for state portraiture; his image of Henry VIII still defines how we picture the king.
- Court painter to Henry VIII, defining the image of the Tudor court.
- Hid an anamorphic skull in The Ambassadors as a reminder of death.
- Achieved a precision and psychological depth rarely matched in portraiture.
Key works
Where to start
Complete list of key works
Works with a dedicated ArtAtlas page are highlighted in gold.
- The AmbassadorsOn ArtAtlas
- The Body of the Dead Christ in the TombListed for reference
- Darmstadt MadonnaListed for reference
- Portrait of Sir Thomas MoreListed for reference
- Venus and CupidListed for reference
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of MilanListed for reference
- Portrait of Henry VIIIListed for reference
- Madonna enthroned with child and two figuresListed for reference
- Self-portraitListed for reference
- Portrait of Sir Richard SouthwellListed for reference
- Portrait of Nicholas KratzerListed for reference
- The Merchant Georg GiszeListed for reference
1533