Holbein’s Visits to England, a series

12/4/24: Holbein’s Visits to England (1526-1528 and 1532-1540)

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.

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 lecture, we will consider what the portraits Holbein created in England tell us about his first tumultuous period, dominated by the divorce that the King was attempting to negotiate with the Pope and increasing religious tensions, and the ambitious multi figure paintings he created during his second stay.

19/4/24: In person visit to the National Gallery to see their Holbein paintings

Prepare to take a fresh look at some of the masterpieces from the National Gallery, London.

Delivered by Isaac Nugent

Upon booking an automated email will be send to you confirming your place on the tour.

Please meet us 10 min before the start of the tour in the Main Vestibule, just beyond the Portico entrance, on the mosaics.

The entrances have changed and there are still extra security checks in place so please leave yourself enough time!

No recording is made of the live in person tour at the National Gallery.