Skip to content

Questions about Hans Holbein the Younger

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Hans Holbein the Younger born and where did he start his career?

Hans Holbein the Younger was born in the winter of 1497 in Augsburg. He began working in his father's large workshop there alongside his brother Ambrosius.

How did Hans Holbein the Younger gain entry to England and who recommended him?

Hans Holbein the Younger traveled to England in 1526 with a recommendation from Erasmus. Thomas More welcomed him and secured commissions for the artist within the humanist circle.

What official position did Hans Holbein the Younger hold under King Henry VIII starting in 1536?

Hans Holbein the Younger was employed as the King's Painter by 1536 on an annual salary of 30 pounds. He painted portraits of courtiers and designed festive decorations while holding significant influence at court.

Why were The Dance of Death prints not published until 1538 despite being created earlier?

The Dance of Death prints were left incomplete after block cutter Hans Lützelburger died in 1526. They were eventually published with 41 woodcuts by his heirs perhaps because they seemed too subversive.

Which famous portrait of Henry VIII did Hans Holbein the Younger create in 1537?

Hans Holbein the Younger painted his most famous image of Henry VIII standing in a heroic pose in 1537. The original life-sized wall painting at Whitehall Palace survives only through engravings that show Jane Seymour and Elizabeth of York alongside the monarch.