Holbein’s Visits to England, a series

12/4/24: Holbein’s First Visit to England (1526-1528)

In 1526, a young German-Swiss painter called Hans Holbein arrived in England seeking patronage. Over the next two years, he would paint several of the leading figures at the Tudor court including Sir Thomas More, the courtier Sir Francis Lovell, and Archbishop of Canterbury William Warham.

In this lecture, we will consider what the portraits Holbein created in England between 1526 and 1528 tell us about this tumultuous period, dominated by the divorce that the King was attempting to negotiate with the Pope and increasing religious tensions. Working mainly for the humanists connected with Erasmus of Rotterdam, Holbein gives us a fascinating insight into the intellectual culture of the court.

19/4/24: Holbein’s Second Visit to England (1532-1540)

During his second visit to England (1532-1540), Hans Holbein enjoyed incredible success. Working for some of the most powerful people at the Tudor court, he was made the King’s Painter in 1536, creating vivid likenesses of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Christina of Denmark, and Anne of Cleves amongst many others.

In this talk, we will focus on the ambitious multi-figure paintings that Holbein created during this period, steeped in the power politics of the English court after Henry's break with Rome in 1534, and consider how the German-Swiss artist's approach to portraiture changed over time. Prepare to take a fresh look at some of the most well-known figures in English history.

Delivered by Isaac Nugent

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A replay is available to members of our database.