Holbein, << HOHL byn >> Hans, the Younger (1497?-1543), ranks among the world’s greatest portrait painters. Holbein was born in Augsburg, Germany. He received his earliest training there from his father and uncles, but moved to Switzerland when he was about 18 years old. Holbein worked in Basel, where he painted the portraits of many important people, notably the Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus. During this time, Holbein also designed a series of woodcuts called The Dance of Death (1523-1526). He also painted several important religious works during this period, such as The Dead Christ (1521).
Holbein spent the winter of 1526-1527 in London as the house guest of Erasmus’s friend Sir Thomas More (also known as Saint Thomas More). Holbein painted and drew portraits of the More family and their friends. He settled permanently in England in 1532 and soon became court painter to King Henry VIII. His duties included designing jewelry and painting portraits of the king and other members of the royal court and household. Many of these portraits have a flat, patterned appearance, perhaps to emphasize that they represent royalty.
