Holbein:
Renaissance Master

A definitive biography of the artist who, more than any other, has shaped our image of the Tudor court

This landmark scholarly biography of Hans Holbein the Younger (c.1497–1543), court painter to Henry VIII, is the first in more than a century. This definitive account breathes new life into Holbein’s story. From his early days in Augsburg and Basel to his lasting impact on British art and culture, Holbein sheds light on the artist whose paintings would shape perceptions of the Tudor court for five hundred years.

Written in accessible, engaging prose, the book explores Holbein’s famous portraits of Tudor figures – Henry VIII, his queens, would-be wives, and leading courtiers such as Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell – and examines iconic works including The Ambassadors. Beyond biography, it situates Holbein’s art within the broader context of Tudor Britain, tracing the birth of collecting, connoisseurship and art history itself.

Beautifully illustrated, and including rarely seen paintings from private collections, this volume weaves the latest research – including new archival discoveries and scientific analysis – into a fresh examination of Holbein’s life and work.