Hans Holbein the Younger

Not to be confused with Hans Holbein the Elder.

Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein der Jüngere
Self-portrait (c. 1542/43), with his self-designation as a citizen of Basel, Switzerland
Bornc. 1497
Augsburg (free imperial city), Holy Roman Empire
DiedOctober or November 1543(1543-11-00) (aged 45–46)
London, England
NationalityGerman,[1] Swiss
Known forPortraits
Notable workPortrait of Henry VIII
The Ambassadors
MovementNorthern Renaissance
SpouseElsbeth Binzenstock
Children2
FatherHans Holbein the Elder
FamilyAmbrosius Holbein (brother)
Patron(s)Anne Boleyn, Thomas More

Hans Holbein the Younger (UK: /ˈhɒlbaɪn/ HOL-byne,[2] US: /ˈhoʊlbaɪn, ˈhɔːl-/ HOHL-byne, HAWL-;[3][4][5] German: Hans Holbein der Jüngere; c. 1497[6] – between 7 October and 29 November 1543) was a German-Swiss painter and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style, and is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century.[7] He also produced religious art, satire, and Reformation propaganda, and he made a significant contribution to the history of book design. He is called "the Younger" to distinguish him from his father Hans Holbein the Elder, an accomplished painter of the Late Gothic school.

Holbein was born in Augsburg but worked mainly in Basel as a young artist. At first, he painted murals and religious works, and designed stained glass windows and illustrations for books from the printer Johann Froben. He also painted an occasional portrait, making his international mark with portraits of humanist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. When the Reformation reached Basel, Holbein worked for reformist clients while continuing to serve traditional religious patrons. His Late Gothic style was enriched by artistic trends in Italy, France, and the Netherlands, as well as by Renaissance humanism. The result was a combined aesthetic uniquely his own.

Holbein travelled to England in 1526 in search of work with a recommendation from Erasmus. He was welcomed into the humanist circle of Thomas More, where he quickly built a high reputation. He returned to Basel for four years, then resumed his career in England in 1532 under the patronage of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. By 1535, he was King's Painter to Henry VIII of England. In this role, he produced portraits and festive decorations, as well as designs for jewellery, plate, and other precious objects. His portraits of the royal family and nobles are a record of the court in the years when Henry was asserting his supremacy over the Church of England.

Holbein's art was prized from early in his career. French poet and reformer Nicholas Bourbon (the elder) dubbed him "the Apelles of our time", a typical accolade at the time.[8] Holbein has also been described as a great "one-off" in art history since he founded no school.[9] Some of his work was lost after his death, but much was collected and he was recognized among the great portrait masters by the 19th century. Recent exhibitions have also highlighted his versatility. He created designs ranging from intricate jewellery to monumental frescoes.

Holbein's art has sometimes been called realist, since he drew and painted with a rare precision. His portraits were renowned in their time for their likeness, and it is through his eyes that many famous figures of his day are pictured today, such as Erasmus and More. He was never content with outward appearance, however; he embedded layers of symbolism, allusion, and paradox in his art, to the lasting fascination of scholars. In the view of art historian Ellis Waterhouse, his portraiture "remains unsurpassed for sureness and economy of statement, penetration into character, and a combined richness and purity of style."[10]

  1. ^ "Hans Holbein the Younger German painter". Encyclopedia Britannica. 22 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Holbein, Hans". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Holbein". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Holbein". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Holbein". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  6. ^ Alastair Armstrong, "Henry VIII: Authority, Nation and Religion 1509–1540"
  7. ^ Zwingenberger, 9.
  8. ^ Wilson, 213; Buck, 50, 112. Apelles was a legendary artist of antiquity, whose imitation of nature was thought peerless.
  9. ^ Wilson, 281.
  10. ^ Waterhouse, 17.