Hans Holbein the Younger (1497 or 1498 - 29.11.1543) virtually celebrated the beauty of the world and the fascination of knowledge. At the same time, Holbein, the court painter of King Henry VIII at the time, recalled the transience of the earthly.
Nuremberg was his home town and the equally determined and highly talented painter already had a wider view beyond his own nose at the beginning of the 16th century: after his father Hans Holbein the Elder had given him the tools of the trade, Hans Holbein the Younger first went to Basel. There he acquired civil rights and freedoms and soon became a protagonist of the Swiss art scene. Holbein took lessons in writing and Latin - but mainly he painted everything there was to paint.
His repertoire consisted of portraits, wall decorations and religious paintings, book illustrations and designs for jewellery and stained glass windows. However, he busily robbed himself of many commission options - and in Basel the world became too small for him.
Holbein portrayed Erasmus of Rotterdam several times, and Erasmus belonged to Holbein's closer circle of friends. Armed with a letter of reference from the humanist addressed to Lord Chancellor Thomas More, Holbein travelled via Antwerp to London in 1526. Thomas More received Holbein in a friendly manner and commissioned him to paint a large-format family portrait. Erasmus of Rotterdam was assured by More that he would do his utmost to promote the young painter in England. Thus Holbein the Younger soon painted opulent decorative pictures for the opulent festive architecture of Henry VIII, thus demonstrating his great mastery time and again. Henry Tudor was enthusiastic. It is said that he discovered that seven peasants could easily be made into seven counts, but none of the counts into a single Holbein - and Holbein painted portrait after portrait of the members of the royal court.
Emotionally, Holbein was still connected with Basel at this time. But in 1539, after a stay in Basel, he broke all bridges, went back to the court of Heinrich and was appointed court painter by return of post.
Whether Catherine of Aragon, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves or Catherine Howard: Hans Holbein the Younger portrayed the squad of the king's wives and of course Heinrich as well.
Nevertheless, the monumental painting "The Envoys" was to become the master's most important work. The friendship painting portrays the French diplomats Georges de Selve and Jean de Dinteville, both of them fine spirits with a penchant for the liberal arts. One component of the painting is a cleverly concealed skull, which is synonymous with the ambiguity in Holbein's work: on the one hand, his art celebrates the grandiose beauty of the world, and on the other hand it reminds us of the transience of the things around us. Thus the realistic effect changes towards a surface of almost cryptic allusions. This is one aspect that continues to make Holbein's work so interesting today.
In 1543, the year of his death, Hans Holbein painted the portrait of the clergyman and royal personal physician John Chambers. This painting reflects determination and spirituality in a particularly subtle way. Hans Holbein the Younger died in London on 29 November 1543.
×
Passionate Customer Service
.jpg "The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "An Allegory of the Old and New Testaments by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-91273).jpg "Portrait of Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-91273).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-45256).jpg "The Dead Christ, 1521 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-45256).jpg)
.jpg "A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling - Anne Lovell, c. 1527 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "The Merchant Georg Gisze by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling, c. 1526-28 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of King Henry VIII of England, 1540 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Jane Seymour, 1536 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_1539_-_(MeisterDrucke-50489).jpg "Portrait of Anne of Cleves (1515-57), 1539 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_1539_-_(MeisterDrucke-50489).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Young Woman, Catherine Howard, ca. 1540-1545 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of the Artist’s Wife with the Two Elder Children, 1528-29 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Nobleman with a Hawk, 1542 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam Writing, 1523 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of King Henry VIII of England, c.1540 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-136023).jpg "Sir Brian Tuke by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-136023).jpg)
.jpg "Unknown Lady Anne Boleyn by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Ship with Revelling Sailors, Lansquenets and a Sutleress by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Thomas More, English statesman, scholar and saint, c. 1527 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Robert Cheseman by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Thomas Cromwell by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Christ as the True Light by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Venus and Amor by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Old Woman, from “The Dance of Death”, engraved by Hans Lutzelburger, c. 1538 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "The Body of the Dead Christ, detail of the hand, 1521 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_aged_49_1540_-_(MeisterDrucke-66863).jpg "Portrait of Henry VIII (1491-1547) Aged 49, 1540 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_aged_49_1540_-_(MeisterDrucke-66863).jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Old Man, from")
.jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_-_(MeisterDrucke-382416).jpg "„God for Harry! England and Saint George!“ (King Henry V), from The Complete Works of Shakespeare, published by George Harrap & Co Ltd, 1920s by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_-_(MeisterDrucke-382416).jpg)
.jpg "The Body of the Dead Christ, Detail of the Head, 1521 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Jane Small, formerly known as Mrs. Robert Pemberton (detail) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-196492).jpg "Portrait of Henry VIII (1491-1547) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-196492).jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Knight, from “The Dance of Death”, engraved by Hans Lützelburger, ca. 1538 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Hanseatic Merchant, 1538 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-406821).jpg "Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam, c. 1530 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-406821).jpg)
_engraved_by_W_Holl_from_World_Religion_published_by_A_-_(MeisterDrucke-253316).jpg "Martin Luther, engraved by W. Holl, from")
_engraved_by_W_Holl_from_World_Religion_published_by_A_-_(MeisterDrucke-253316).jpg)
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1815)_-_(MeisterDrucke-297136).jpg "Sir Thomas Wyatt (engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1815)_-_(MeisterDrucke-297136).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-382412).jpg "Read o")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-382412).jpg)
_from_Lodges_British_Portraits_1823_-_(MeisterDrucke-47196).jpg "Portrait of King Henry VIII (1491-1547) from")
_from_Lodges_British_Portraits_1823_-_(MeisterDrucke-47196).jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Count, from")
.jpg)
_1532_(oil_and_gold_on_oak)_-_(MeisterDrucke-137759).jpg "Hermann von Wedigh III (died 1560), 1532 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_1532_(oil_and_gold_on_oak)_-_(MeisterDrucke-137759).jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Noblewoman, from")
.jpg)
_of_Rotterdam_-_(MeisterDrucke-100239).jpg "Portrait of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_of_Rotterdam_-_(MeisterDrucke-100239).jpg)
_1528_-_(MeisterDrucke-222707).jpg "Portrait of Nicholas Kratzer by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_1528_-_(MeisterDrucke-222707).jpg)
.jpg "Death Comes to the Old Man, or the Hermit, from")
.jpg)
_Astronomer_of_Henry_VIII_Painting_by_Han_-_(MeisterDrucke-988585).jpg "Portrait of Nicolas Kratzer (1487-1550), Astronomer of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_Astronomer_of_Henry_VIII_Painting_by_Han_-_(MeisterDrucke-988585).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-66921).jpg "Portrait of Henry VIII (1491-1547) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-66921).jpg)
.jpg "The Fall of Adam and Eve, from")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-226746).jpg "Portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-226746).jpg)
_1538_1523-1526_-_(MeisterDrucke-237240).jpg "The Empress from Dance of Death (Lyons), 1538 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_1538_1523-1526_-_(MeisterDrucke-237240).jpg)
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1_-_(MeisterDrucke-276718).jpg "Thomas More, Lord Chancellor (1478-1535) Engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1_-_(MeisterDrucke-276718).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080931).jpg "Portrait of a Youth in a Broad-brimmed Hat, c.1524-26 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080931).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-37076).jpg "Portrait of Jane Seymour, 1536 (detail) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-37076).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Jane Seymour, 1536, 1936 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "Illuminated")
.jpg)
.jpg "Cowards die many times before their deaths: The valiant never taste of death but once (Julius Caesar), from The Complete Works of Shakespeare, published by George Harrap & Co Ltd, 1920s by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Wor_-_(MeisterDrucke-382418).jpg "Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye on the young boy (King John) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_Wor_-_(MeisterDrucke-382418).jpg)
.jpg "Henry VII by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Works_o_-_(MeisterDrucke-382419).jpg "How say you? My prisoner or my guest? (The Winter")
_from_The_Complete_Works_o_-_(MeisterDrucke-382419).jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_Shakespeare_published_-_(MeisterDrucke-382423).jpg "What is it? a spirit? (The Tempest) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_Shakespeare_published_-_(MeisterDrucke-382423).jpg)
_c1543_-_(MeisterDrucke-157711).jpg "Duke Anton the Good of Lorraine by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_c1543_-_(MeisterDrucke-157711).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-68869).jpg "Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-68869).jpg)
_1538_1523-1526_-_(MeisterDrucke-314497).jpg "The Judge from Dance of Death (Lyons), 1538 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_1538_1523-1526_-_(MeisterDrucke-314497).jpg)
.jpg "Men")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-94727).jpg "Henry VIII in His Privy Chamber by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-94727).jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Barrister, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Sailor, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "And I will die a hundred thousand deaths ere break the smallest parcel of this vow (King Henry IV) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
.jpg "The Last Judgement, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Pity you ancient stones, those tender babes whom envy hath immured within your walls (King Richard III), from The Complete Works of Shakespeare published by George Harrap & Co Ltd, 1920s by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_Duchess_of_Milan_probably_1538_-_(MeisterDrucke-137999).jpg "Christina of Denmark (1522-90), Duchess of Milan, Probably 1538 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_Duchess_of_Milan_probably_1538_-_(MeisterDrucke-137999).jpg)
.jpg "William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1850 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Works_-_(MeisterDrucke-641072).jpg "Why did you throw your wedded lady from you? (Cymbeline), from The Complete Works of Shakespeare published by George Harrap & Co Ltd, 1920s by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_Works_-_(MeisterDrucke-641072).jpg)
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1815)_1795_-_(MeisterDrucke-322599).jpg "Sir George Carew, Engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi, 1795 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1815)_1795_-_(MeisterDrucke-322599).jpg)
.jpg "Illuminated")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death Comes for the Drunkard, Engraved by Georg Scharffenberg, from")
.jpg)
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-18_-_(MeisterDrucke-307898).jpg "Portrait of Catherine Howard (1520-42) Engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi, 1796 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-18_-_(MeisterDrucke-307898).jpg)
.jpg "The Nun, from")
.jpg)
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1815)_1797_-_(MeisterDrucke-219999).jpg "Sir Thomas Boleyn (engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi, 1797) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-1815)_1797_-_(MeisterDrucke-219999).jpg)
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-18_-_(MeisterDrucke-280577).jpg "Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (c.1517-47) Engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi (1727-1815) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_engraved_by_Francesco_Bartolozzi_(1727-18_-_(MeisterDrucke-280577).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-11708).jpg "Sir Thomas More by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
 - (MeisterDrucke-11708).jpg)
.jpg "Death comes to the Pedlar, engraved by Georg Scharffenberg, from")
.jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_Shakespea_-_(MeisterDrucke-382409).jpg "O! never shall sun that morrow see (MacBeth) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_Shakespea_-_(MeisterDrucke-382409).jpg)
.jpg "King Henry the Eighth, illustration from")
.jpg)
.jpg "I am determined to prove a villain and have the idle pleasures of those days (King Richard II) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_S_-_(MeisterDrucke-382415).jpg "And what sayest thou then to my love? (King Henry V) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_Works_of_S_-_(MeisterDrucke-382415).jpg)
_from_The_Complete_-_(MeisterDrucke-382421).jpg "Hear you me, Jessica: lock up my doors (The Merchant of Venice) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_from_The_Complete_-_(MeisterDrucke-382421).jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Ploughman, from")
.jpg)
_founder_of_the_Magdalen_Colle_-_(MeisterDrucke-911837).jpg "Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, 1478-1521, founder of Magdalen College at Cambridge, decapitated for treason in 1521 by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_founder_of_the_Magdalen_Colle_-_(MeisterDrucke-911837).jpg)
_Second_Wife_of_Henry_VIII_of_England_(see_also_68049)_-_(MeisterDrucke-40257).jpg "Anne Boleyn (c.1507-36) Second Wife of Henry VIII of England by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_Second_Wife_of_Henry_VIII_of_England_(see_also_68049)_-_(MeisterDrucke-40257).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-36812).jpg "Sir Henry Wyatt by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-36812).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of the Merchant Georg Gisze (detail) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
.jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-79457).jpg "Henry VIII (1491-1547) by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-79457).jpg)
_1536_-_(MeisterDrucke-168340).jpg "Portrait of Sir Richard Southwell by Hans Holbein der Jüngere")
_1536_-_(MeisterDrucke-168340).jpg)
.jpg "Death Comes to the Bishop, engraved by Georg Scharffenberg, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death comes to the Doctor, engraved by Georg Scharffenberg, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death comes for the Queen, engraved by Georg Scharffenberg, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Astronomer, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death Comes to the Miser or Usurer, Engraved by Georg Scharffenberg, from")
.jpg)
.jpg "Death and the Mendicant Friar, from")
.jpg)
+43 4257 29415
support@meisterdrucke.com
Mo-Do: 7:00 - 16:00 | Fr: 7:00 - 13:00
