Hans Holbein the Younger: portraits of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, Thomas More

Hans Holbein the Younger: portraits of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, Thomas More

New exhibition titled “Holbein at the Tudor Court” is on display at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace in London. It is dedicated to the works of the German artist Hans Holbein the Younger who is one of the prominent representatives of the Renaissance of the 16th century. The exhibition showcases portraits of the English royalty and court members made by Hans Holbein where he served as a court artist during the Tudor ruling.

Hans Holbein the Younger: portraits of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, Thomas More | London Cult.
Hans Holbein the Younger (German, 1497/1498–1543), Mary Shelton (later Lady Heveningham (1510/15-1570/71) Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023

New exhibition titled “Holbein at the Tudor Court” is on display at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace in London. It is dedicated to the works of the German artist Hans Holbein the Younger who is one of the prominent representatives of the Renaissance of the 16th century. The exhibition showcases portraits of the English royalty and court members made by Hans Holbein where he served as a court artist during the Tudor ruling.

Hans Holbein the Younger was born in 1497/1498 in Augsburg, Germany, he studied painting at the workshop of his artist father, Hans Holbein the Elder. He began his career with engraving and illustrating books. In six years he created more than 1,200 engravings. In 1515, Holbein created illustrations for Erasmus of Rotterdam’s “Praise of Folly.”

The Reformation forced Holbein to leave the country in 1525. Thanks to a letter of recommendation from Erasmus of Rotterdam, he was warmly received by Thomas More, Chancellor and Advisor to King Henry VIII. He became his first patron, and in a short time the artist painted several portraits of More and his friends. In 1532 Holbein moved permanently to London, where he became a painter at the court of Henry VIII.

Rare works of the retrospective include drawings, paintings, miniatures and book illustrations from the royal collection, which are almost 5 centuries old. It is interesting to note how carefully Holbein followed his sketches in his work. Holbein’s graphics are particularly attractive, where one can see every slightest movement of the pencil and his reverent attention to detail.

Exhibits include portraits of such famous figures as Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Jane Seymour, Sir Thomas More, Mary Shelton, William Reskimer, and Derich Born.


The highlights of the exhibition

 

Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535)