Isabella Flores
Hans Holbein the Younger was a German-Swiss painter and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style. He is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. Holbein was born in Augsburg, Germany, and 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. He also painted the occasional portrait, making his international mark with portraits of humanist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. So, what was his first painting?
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What You'll Learn
Early work in Basel
The German-Swiss painter and printmaker Hans Holbein the Younger (c.1497/98–1543) is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He worked mainly in Basel as a young artist, and his early work there was varied. Holbein was born in Augsburg, the son of the painter and draughtsman Hans Holbein the Elder, and he followed in his father's footsteps to become an artist.
Holbein's early work in Basel included murals, religious works, stained glass window designs, and illustrations for printed books. He also painted the occasional portrait, making his international mark with portraits of humanist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. Holbein entered the painters' corporation in 1519, married a tanner's widow, and became a burgher of Basel in 1520. By 1521, he was executing important mural decorations in the Great Council Chamber of Basel's town hall. He also painted external murals for The House of the Dance and internal murals for the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. The latter survive only in a few poorly preserved fragments.
During his early years in Basel, Holbein also produced a series of religious paintings. He was prolific during this period, which coincided with the arrival of Lutheranism in the city. He undertook a number of major projects, including illustrations for the publisher Johann Froben. His woodcut designs included those for the Dance of Death, the Icones (illustrations of the Old Testament), and the title page of Martin Luther's bible.
In addition to his work in Basel, Holbein travelled to northern Italy around 1517 and to France in 1524. These trips influenced the development of his religious subjects and portraiture, respectively. He adopted the French artist Jean Clouet's method of drawing with coloured chalks on a plain ground and embraced the preliminary portrait style for its own sake.
Holbein left Basel in 1526, armed with a letter of introduction from Erasmus, and travelled to England via the Netherlands. He returned to Basel for four years in 1532 before resuming his career in England, where he worked for Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell and was appointed King's Painter to Henry VIII.
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Portrait of Desiderius Erasmus
German-Swiss painter and printmaker Hans Holbein the Younger is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. Working in the Northern Renaissance style, he is best known for his portraits of the English ruling elite, which produced images that came to define their public personas.
Holbein's portrait style was distinct from the more sensuous technique of Titian and the Mannerism of William Scrots, his successor as King's Painter. Instead, his work had more in common with that of Jean Clouet, whose method of drawing with coloured chalks on a plain ground he adopted during his visit to France in 1524. Holbein also learned the technique of limning from Lucas Horenbout during his second stay in England.
One of Holbein's most famous portraits is that of Desiderius Erasmus, a humanist from Rotterdam. This portrait, painted in oils on a panel between 1523 and 1524, measures 43 x 33 cm and is currently held in the Louvre in Paris. It was this portrait, along with others of humanist figures, that first brought Holbein international recognition.
Erasmus was an important contact for Holbein, providing him with a letter of introduction that helped him secure work in England in 1526. Erasmus also described Holbein as a "wonderful artist" in a letter to Sir Thomas More, who welcomed Holbein into his humanist circle and commissioned several works from him, including a famous portrait.
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Work for the English court
Hans Holbein the Younger, born between 1497 and 1498 in Augsburg, Germany, was a prolific German-Swiss painter and printmaker. He is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century, renowned for his work in the Northern Renaissance style.
Holbein travelled to England in 1526, armed with a letter of introduction from Erasmus to Sir Thomas More. He was welcomed into More's humanist circle and soon built a high reputation, executing several important works during this period, including the famous Hans Holbein the Younger, born between 1497 and 1498 in Augsburg, Germany, was a prolific German-Swiss painter and printmaker. He is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century, renowned for his work in the Northern Renaissance style.
Holbein travelled to England in 1526, armed with a letter of introduction from Erasmus to Sir Thomas More. He was welcomed into More's humanist circle and soon built a high reputation, executing several important commissions. Holbein's most impressive works from this period were for More himself, including a magnificent single portrait of the statesman and author.
During his first stay in England, Holbein worked largely for a humanist circle with ties to Erasmus. He also painted many prospective brides while holding his position as court painter, as well as the occasional portrait of the king's family. These works provide a vivid record of a brilliant court and are an important source of knowledge about the Tudor royal family. One such work is a portrait of Edward VI as a robust baby, which contradicts the prevailing view that he was frail and sickly.
In 1532, Holbein resumed his career in England, working for Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. He was appointed King's Painter to Henry VIII, designing jewellery, plates, and other precious objects, as well as festive decorations. His portraits of the king and his courtiers offer a glimpse into a brilliant court during a momentous period when Henry was assuming power as the Supreme Head of the English Church.
Holbein's work in England showcases his mastery of light and texture, as well as his exquisite portrayals of fabric, fur, and glass. His art is considered realist, representing people with precision and creating a true likeness of his sitters.
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Religious paintings
Hans Holbein the Younger was a German-Swiss painter and printmaker who worked in the Northern Renaissance style. He is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century, and he also produced religious art, satire, and Reformation propaganda. Holbein was born in Augsburg and worked mainly in Basel as a young artist.
At first, he painted murals and religious works, as well as designed stained glass windows and illustrations for printed books. Holbein's work in Basel during the decade of 1515–25 was varied and sometimes derivative. Trips to northern Italy (c. 1517) and France (1524) influenced the development of his religious subjects and portraiture.
Holbein was prolific during his time in Basel, coinciding with the arrival of Lutheranism in the city. He produced a series of religious paintings, including murals for the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, and external murals for The House of Dance. He also designed cartoons for stained glass windows and illustrated books for the publisher Johann Froben.
Holbein's religious works include "The Dead Christ in the Tomb" (1521) and "Family of Burgomaster Meyer Adoring the Virgin" (1526). In the latter painting, Holbein combined late medieval German composition with precise Flemish realism and Italian treatment of form. Holbein gave up religious painting after about 1530. However, he continued to produce religious art later in his career, such as "Saint Paul with Book and Sword" (1540).
In addition to his religious paintings, Holbein is well known for his portraits of the English ruling elite, which defined their public personas. He also produced designs for jewellery, plates, and other objects, as well as festive decorations during his career as King's Painter to Henry VIII.
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Book illustrations
Hans Holbein the Younger was a German-Swiss painter and printmaker who worked in the Northern Renaissance style. He is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. Holbein was born in Augsburg, Germany, but worked mainly in Basel as a young artist.
Holbein made a significant contribution to the history of book design. He designed woodcuts for title pages and book illustrations. His most famous work in this area was a series of 41 scenes illustrating the medieval allegorical concept of the "Dance of Death", designed between 1523 and 1526 but not published until 1538. He also illustrated the Old Testament, and the title page of Martin Luther's bible.
Holbein's work as a book illustrator must be understood in the context of his broader artistic output and career. He was a versatile artist who turned his hand to religious paintings, frescoes, jewellery and clothing design, and book illustrations throughout his lifetime. He is particularly well known for his mastery of light and texture, and his exquisite portrayals of fabric, fur, and glass. Holbein's art has sometimes been called realist, as he represented people with detail and precision, and was renowned for creating a true likeness of his sitters.
Holbein's work in book illustration was part of a broader revolution in book design. He illustrated books for the publisher Johann Froben, and his woodcut designs included those for the "Dance of Death", cut by the formschneider Hans Lützelburger, the Icones (illustrations of the Old Testament), and the title page of Martin Luther's bible.
Holbein's work in book illustration is an important part of his legacy, and his contributions to the field have been recognised and valued by scholars and artists alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The first painting Hans Holbein the Younger made is unknown, but he started his career in Basel, Switzerland, painting murals and religious works.
Hans Holbein the Younger is best known as one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. His most famous painting is likely the Portrait of Sir Thomas More, which he painted in 1527.
Holbein's art is considered realist because he represented people with detail and precision, creating a true likeness of his sitters. He is also known for his mastery of light and texture and his exquisite portrayals of fabric, fur, and glass.
