Holbein: Capturing Character

The Morgan Library & Museum

This will be the first major U.S. exhibition dedicated to the art of Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98–1543), who created captivating portraits of courtiers, merchants, scholars, and statesmen in Basel, Switzerland, and later in England and served as a court painter to King Henry VIII (1491–1547). The Morgan’s display will feature around 60 objects from over 20 lenders across the globe, including 31 paintings and drawings by Holbein himself. His work was detailed with inscriptions, insignia, and evocative attributes, conveying truthful likenesses but also celebrating the individuals’ identities, values, aspirations, and achievements. Exclusive to the Morgan’s exhibition is Sir Thomas More (1527)—one of the masterpieces of Holbein’s first stay in England—depicting the philosopher, statesman and humanist at the height of his political career. More sat for Holbein shortly before he was promoted to Lord Chancellor, the highest-ranking office in Tudor England. Holbein presents his sitter as an authoritative statesman, prominently adorned with a golden chain of office.

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98–1543) was among the most skilled, versatile, and inventive artists of the early 1500s. He created captivating portraits of courtiers, merchants, scholars, and statesmen in Basel, Switzerland, and later in England, and served as a court painter to Tudor King Henry VIII (1491–1547). Enriched by inscriptions, insignia, and evocative attributes, his portraits comprise eloquent visual statements of personal identity and illuminate the Renaissance culture of erudition, self-fashioning, luxury, and wit

Holbein worked closely with Erasmus of Rotterdam, Thomas More, and other esteemed scholars in Renaissance Europe as both a portraitist and book illustrator. The book, with its ability to preserve and revive ancient texts and promulgate new ones, became the period’s humanist symbol par excellence, which many patrons wanted displayed in their portraits. Holbein was also active as a designer of personal jewels, which could serve as small declarations of the wearer’s taste, beliefs, and erudition. Featuring examples from the artist’s diverse output alongside select works by his Northern contemporaries, Capturing Character explores Holbein’s contributions to Renaissance portraiture and celebrates the era’s sophistication and visual splendor.