Hans Holbein the Younger

(German, born circa 1497–1543)

Hans Holbein the Younger was an eminent German painter known for his precisely rendered portraits. Along with his peers Lucas Cranach the Elder and Albrecht Dürer, Holbein’s work represented a high point for Northern Renaissance painting. The artist eloquently combined the nuance of Flemish realism with the rigid structure of Late Gothic stylization. Born c. 1497 in Augsburg, Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany), he first studied under his father Hans Holbein the Elder, before moving to Basel, Switzerland around 1515. During his time in Basel, he befriended a number of humanist writers and publishers who promoted and commissioned his work. With the Protestant Reformation taking hold of Basel, in 1526, the artist left the city for England. His connections with humanist circles brought him to the attention of the writer and politician Thomas More, who commissioned a portrait of himself. Though he returned to Switzerland periodically, by 1533 Holbein had established himself as the favorite painter of Henry VIII. That same year, he completed his famed double portrait The Ambassadors. During his remaining years in court, he produced around 150 portraits, including those of Henry VIII’s wives Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves. Holbein died of plague in 1543, in London, United Kingdom. Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in London, and the Kunstmuseum Basel, among others.

Hans Holbein the Younger News

Art History

Forget Kate Middleton’s Photoshop Blunder: Here Are Other Royals Who Had Their Portraits Edited

by Richard Whiddington
Forget Kate Middleton’s Photoshop Blunder: Here Are Other Royals Who Had Their Portraits Edited
Art History

Conservation Work on a 16th-Century Portrait Reveals Hans Holbein’s Cheek-Chiseling Procedure

by Verity Babbs
Conservation Work on a 16th-Century Portrait Reveals Hans Holbein’s Cheek-Chiseling Procedure
Art History

Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII Is the Jewel in the Crown of Tudor England—Here Are 3 Things You Might Not Know About It

by Annikka Olsen
Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII Is the Jewel in the Crown of Tudor England—Here Are 3 Things You Might Not Know About It

Hans Holbein the Younger Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Hans Holbein the Younger (339 results)
PORTRAIT OF MARGARET, MARCHIONESS OF DORSET,...

In the manner of Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF MARGARET, MARCHIONESS OF DORSET,...

Sale Date: September 15, 1994

Auction Closed

Eine Gruppe von Heiligen um einen heiligen Konig

Follower of Hans Holbein the Younger

Eine Gruppe von Heiligen um einen heiligen Konig

Sale Date: May 14, 1994

Auction Closed

Bildnis eines Edelmannes mit Totenkopf, 1532

Circle of Hans Holbein the Younger

Bildnis eines Edelmannes mit Totenkopf, 1532

Sale Date: May 11, 1994

Auction Closed

Erasmus of Rotterdam, 1538

Hans Holbein the Younger

Erasmus of Rotterdam, 1538

Sale Date: May 9, 1994

Auction Closed

Portrait of Henry VIII

After Hans Holbein the Younger

Portrait of Henry VIII

Sale Date: May 5, 1994

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND,...

Follower of Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND,...

Sale Date: January 11, 1994

Auction Closed

MAND I PELSBRAEMMET FRAKKE

Style of Hans Holbein the Younger

MAND I PELSBRAEMMET FRAKKE

Sale Date: December 16, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAET AF MARY BULLEN, WIFE TO WM. EASSEY ESQ.

School of Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAET AF MARY BULLEN, WIFE TO WM. EASSEY ESQ.

Sale Date: November 18, 1993

Auction Closed

DIE KREUZTRAGUNG

Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger

DIE KREUZTRAGUNG

Sale Date: October 15, 1993

Auction Closed

Portrait of Edward VI

In the manner of Hans Holbein the Younger

Portrait of Edward VI

Sale Date: July 22, 1993

Auction Closed

ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM

After Hans Holbein the Younger

ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM

Sale Date: June 29, 1993

Auction Closed

THE COUNTRY ATTORNEY AND HIS CLIENT, 1764

After Hans Holbein the Younger

THE COUNTRY ATTORNEY AND HIS CLIENT, 1764

Sale Date: May 28, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF GEORG GISZ

After Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF GEORG GISZ

Sale Date: May 18, 1993

Auction Closed

BILDNIS EINES EDELMANNES MIT TOTENKOPF, 1532

Circle of Hans Holbein the Younger

BILDNIS EINES EDELMANNES MIT TOTENKOPF, 1532

Sale Date: May 13, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF SIR WILLIAM BUTTS

Studio of Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF SIR WILLIAM BUTTS

Sale Date: April 6, 1993

Auction Closed

THE COUNTRY ATTORNEY AND HIS CLIENT, 1764

After Hans Holbein the Younger

THE COUNTRY ATTORNEY AND HIS CLIENT, 1764

Sale Date: April 4, 1993

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SMALL QUARTER LENGTH,...

Follower of Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, SMALL QUARTER LENGTH,...

Sale Date: March 4, 1993

Auction Closed

RITRATTO DI NOBILUOMO IN ABITO NERO BORDATO DI...

Follower of Hans Holbein the Younger

RITRATTO DI NOBILUOMO IN ABITO NERO BORDATO DI...

Sale Date: November 25, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF A MAN IN AN INTERIOR

After Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF A MAN IN AN INTERIOR

Sale Date: November 11, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF ANNE BOLEYN

In the manner of Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF ANNE BOLEYN

Sale Date: November 11, 1992

Auction Closed

BILDNIS LORD WILLIAM PAGET

Circle of Hans Holbein the Younger

BILDNIS LORD WILLIAM PAGET

Sale Date: November 5, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS HOWARD, THIRD DUKE OF...

After Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS HOWARD, THIRD DUKE OF...

Sale Date: July 17, 1992

Auction Closed

ELIZABETH I AND HENRY VIII: A PAIR OF PORTRAITS

In the manner of Hans Holbein the Younger

ELIZABETH I AND HENRY VIII: A PAIR OF PORTRAITS

Sale Date: July 16, 1992

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT OF MARTIN LUTHER;

After Hans Holbein the Younger

PORTRAIT OF MARTIN LUTHER;

Sale Date: July 9, 1992

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.