How did Hans Holbein survive the court of Henry VIII when so many around him were executed? What was his influence on how we see the Tudors? Join Alastair and James to find out how Holbein survived one of the most tumultuous periods in English history and emerge as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance.
Artworks in this episode include:
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of the Artist's Family, 1528-9, Kunstmuseum, Basel
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, The National Gallery, London
Remigius van Leemput, after Hans Holbein the Younger, Whitehall Mural, 1667, The Royal Collection
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Christina of Denmark, 1538, The National Gallery
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Anne of Clèves, 1539, Musée du Louvre, Paris
To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction: Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII
- 00:01:59 Recap: Holbein's First Journey to England
- 00:02:46 Return to Basel: The Reformation and Iconoclasm
- 00:05:44 Family Life and Departure for England
- 00:10:33 England in Crisis: Henry VIII and the Break from Rome
- 00:13:35 The Hanseatic Merchants
- 00:14:32 The Ambassadors: Holbein's Masterpiece
- 00:25:24 Becoming the King's Painter
- 00:27:21 The Whitehall Mural: Creating the Iconic Image of Henry VIII
- 00:34:23 The Pimp's Scout: Painting Potential Brides
- 00:37:31 Christina of Denmark
- 00:43:16 Anne of Cleves
- 00:45:06 Holbein's Genius
- 00:48:46 Death, Legacy, and the Double Family
- 00:52:34 Conclusion: The Power of Images