Hans Holbein

Hans Holbein the Younger was a German painter and printmaker celebrated for his precise, psychologically rich portraits and religious works. He rose to prominence in Basel and later became court painter to Henry VIII of England. His portraits of the Tudor court—including Thomas More, Anne of Cleves, and Henry VIII himself—are notable for their realism and detail. Holbein also created The Ambassadors, a masterpiece filled with symbolism and perspective. His draftsmanship, particularly in chalk drawings, set a high standard for portraiture. Holbein’s blend of Renaissance humanism and Northern precision made him one of the greatest portraitists in Western history.