Hans Holbein the Younger

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Self-portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger

Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497 – between 7 October and 29 November 1543) was a German-Swiss artist, painter and printmaker. He is best known for the portraits he painted. He is called "the Younger" to distinguish him from his father, Hans Holbein the Elder. Hans Holbein the Younger was the better painter.[1]

Biography[change | change source]

He was an artist born in Augsburg, he later moved to Basel with his family and eventually he traveled to England in 1526 in find work there. He was a great portrait painter.[2] He also painted some religious paintings.

He was a very talented painter who had his own style of painting. He was made to the King's Painter in England. He worked for King Henry VIII.

He also worked in England for several famous people, Thomas More, Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, and painted many portraits of the English royal family and nobles. These paintings show us today the English court life in the time of Henry VIII of England.

He was loved and appreciated by his time.[3] Holbein is considered one of the greatest artists in the art history.[4]

His portrait of Erasmus and Thomas More are now very famous.[5]

References[change | change source]

  1. Alastair Armstrong, " Henry VIII: Authority, Nation and Religion 1509–1540"
  2. Zwingenberger, 9.
  3. Wilson, 213; Buck, 50, 112. Apelles was a legendary artist of antiquity, whose imitation of nature was thought peerless.
  4. Wilson, 281.
  5. Waterhouse, 17.

Other websites[change | change source]

Media related to Hans Holbein the Younger at Wikimedia Commons