Hans Holbein the Younger (1498 – 1543)
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Hans Holbein the Younger was a German painter and printmaker during the 16th century. Holbein is most known for his portraits, religious paintings, Reformation propaganda, and Northern Renaissance style. Holbein was named after his father, Hans Holbein the Elder, who was a painter of the late Gothic period.
Holbein was born in Augsberg, Germany, but worked in Switzerland for most of his life. Holbein first moved to Basel, Switzerland when his father was hired to be a painter and printmaker in the city. Holbein would work on projects with his father, learning valuable techniques. In 1517, both the Elder and Younger worked on indoor murals for the merchant, Jakob von Hertenstein in Luzern.
When Holbein returned to Basel form Luzern he began to run a painting workshop and joined the painters’ guild. Around this same time he married a woman named Elsbeth Schmid, who soon gave birth to two children.
Holbein continued to work on mural projects, including a commission from the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. Unfortunately, many of these murals have not survived. While working on large-scale murals, Holbein also mastered book design and woodcut printing methods. Holbein painted portraits less frequently at this time, than later in his career. It was not until 1523 that Holbein painted his first portraits of the Renaissance scholar, Erasmus. It’s the paintings of Erasmus that really sparked Holbein’s career. A few years later, Holbein moved to England, where he was commissioned to paint Sir Thomas More. The painting f More, was followed by a series of important commissions.
In England Holbein was involved in a circle of humanists and scholars, for whom he was employed. Holbein did not work for the King, but for several courtiers and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Around 1528, Holbein returned to Basel and purchased a house in St. Johanns-Vorstadt, where he continued to paint portraits. The political climate in Basel was quickly intensifying due to the religious reformation. The reformist council paid for Holbein to continue working on frescoes. The new frescoes were based on the Old Testament, telling the story of Rehoboam, Saul and Samuel. Holbein was also paid to design clocks at the city gates.
In the 1530s, Holbein’s commissions started to wane, and the artist decided to return to England. Like Switzerland, political tension was growing in England. Holbein strayed form his humanist ties and began to favor Thomas Cromwell, the secretary of the King Henry VIII, and Anne Boleyn and her family. While Holbein worked for Anne Boleyn, all portraits were destroyed after her execution.
Holbein’s work for Cromwell included a series of reformist images, such as woodcuts royal images and a cover to Myles Coverdale’s version of the bible. He also painted several portraits of courtiers, landowners and international ambassadors.
By 1536, Holbein began working for King Henry VIII, through the sponsorship of Cromwell. At this time Holbein painted both miniature and large-scale portraits of the royal family. Only a few years later, in 1540, Thomas Cromwell was executed. This marked the third death of one of Holbein’s patrons, following Thomas More and Anne Boleyn. In 1543 Holbein died of unknown causes. It is speculated that he died of the plague, though the specific details of his death and gravesite is unknown.
While many of the frescoes and portraits of Holbein were destroyed, his surviving work is extremely valuable. In recent years lost miniatures have resurfaced, catching the attention of collectors and art historians. Museums around the world collect his paintings, prints and sketches. Do you think you own a painting or print by Hans Holbein the Younger? Contact us. We are the Holbein experts.