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11 February saw the opening of the first retrospective exhibition of Hans Holbein at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. The exhibition will run until mid-May and viewers will be able to admire as many as 31 works by the master, including his famous portraits of Erasmus of Rotterdam and Thomas More.

Hans Holbein

Hans Holbein (1497-1543) was one of the main representatives of the Northern European Renaissance. He went down in history as a great German painter, draughtsman and graphic artist who depicted his portrayed subjects with psychological depth and great detail. At the age of 39 he was appointed court painter to King Henry VIII and held this position until his death.

Holbein was born as the son of a painter and draftsman of the late Gothic and Renaissance period - also Hans. Together with his brother, the young artist apprenticed with their father and later entered the atelier of Hans Herbster (1468-1550) and in 1519 received the title of master. The most famous works by the master include Portrait of King Henry VIII from 1537, Portrait of Jane Seymour from 1536 and The Ambassadors from 1533. In the latter, he paints a kind of picture-rebus, where apart from the splendid representation of the Ambassadors, an attentive viewer can find many references. The marked age of the portrayed, references to the creation of the world and the political situation at the time are just a few examples of hidden meanings.

Exhibition

In addition to Holbein's works, the New York exhibition features works by Albrecht Dürer and Jan Gossaert. The exhibition was organized thanks to the Morgan Library & Museum and the Getty Museum of Los Angeles. The objects have been borrowed from very well-known and respected art collections, including The Frick Collection and The Kunstmuseum in Basel. The event is entitled, ''Holbein: Capturing Character''.

Added 2022-02-17 in by Alicja Graczyk

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