Hans Holbein the Younger

Hans Holbein the Younger was a German-Swiss artist and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style, and is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire, and Reformation propaganda, and he made a significant contribution to the history of book design. He is called "the Younger" to distinguish him from his father Hans Holbein the Elder, an accomplished painter of the Late Gothic school. Holbein was born in Augsburg but worked mainly in Basel as a young artist. At first, he painted murals and religious works, and designed stained glass windows and illustrations for books from the printer Johann Froben. He also became friends with the humanist scholar Erasmus, whose portrait he painted in 1523. In 1526, he travelled to England with an introduction to Sir Thomas More from Erasmus. He stayed for two years producing portraits at the court of Henry VIII, before returning to Basel where his wife and two children lived. In 1532, he went back to England and became the official court painter of Henry VIII. He painted many portraits of the king, his wives, and prominent figures of the Tudor court. He also created miniatures, designs for jewellery and medals, and drawings for woodcuts and engravings. His portraits are noted for their precise rendering of details, their compelling realism, and their psychological insight into the character of his sitters. Holbein died of the plague in London sometime between 7 October and 29 November 1543. His exact burial place is unknown, but it is likely that he was buried in one of the mass graves for plague victims. He left behind a large body of work that influenced many later artists, such as Anthony van Dyck, Joshua Reynolds, and Thomas Gainsborough. His portraits have become cultural icons that define the image of Henry VIII and his court. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance and one of the finest portrait painters in history.