Stunning portraits by the renowned Renaissance artist illuminate fascinating figures from the European merchant class, intellectual elite, and court of King Henry VIII. Nobles, ladies, scholars, and merchants were the subjects of Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98–1543), an inventive German artist best known for his dazzling portraits. Holbein developed his signature style in Basel and London amid a rich culture of erudition, self-definition, and love of luxury and wit before becoming court painter to Henry VIII. Accompanying the first major Holbein exhibition in the United States, this catalogue explores his vibrant visual and intellectual approach to personal identity. In addition to reproducing many of the artist's painted and drawn portraits, this volume delves into his relationship with leading intellectuals, such as Erasmus of Rotterdam and Thomas More, as well as his contributions to publishing and book culture, meticulous inscriptions, and ingenious designs for jewels, hat badges, and other exquisite objects. This volume is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from October 19, 2021, to January 9, 2022 and at the Morgan Library & Museum from February 11 to May 15, 2022.

"This volume contains nearly the entire creative output of Hans Holbein the Younger's Basel period, i.e. the productive and innovative years between 1515 and 1532. In contrast to his later work in England, where he was active primarily as a portraitist and a designer at court, the Basel years were varied and multifaceted." "This publication also includes a series of essays by distinguished Holbein scholars. These cover Holbein's artistic development, analyze his graphic works, shed light on his religious panel paintings and focus on individual works and work complexes such as the woodcut series of the Images of Death. Holbein's artistic career, his patrons and his relationship to antique and contemporary art theory are also discussed."--BOOK JACKET.

"Explores how the Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger came to develop his mature artistic styles through the key historical contexts framing his work: the controversies of the Reformation and Renaissance debates about rhetoric"--Provided by publisher.

This is the first comprehensive monograph on Hans Holbein the Younger to have appeared in over 40 years. The authors re-examine every aspect of a remarkable career and cast fresh light on many hitherto vexing questions and misunderstandings.

Addressing the critical reception of painter Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98-1543), this volume consists of two parts. The first section comprises a series of short essays reflecting responses to Holbein throughout history which forged his critical and popular reputation. This section also includes overviews of the most important monographs and exhibitions, as well as a selection of research published since 1980. The second, much larger part is an annotated bibliography containing some 2,500 entries on a range of subjects including books, essays in scholarly journals, and articles published in the popular media. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR