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Holbein, Hans

Holbein, Hans (häns hôl'bīn) [key]the elder, c.1465–1524, German painter and draftsman.

Holbein worked principally in Augsburg and Ulm, painting altarpieces for churches and probably creating portraits as well. Such early works as the altarpiece depicting the Life of the Virgin (Augsburg Cathedral) and the large Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore altarpiece (Augsburg) show little divergence from the common practice of the Swabian school, which was influenced by the Flemish style.

In later altarpieces done after c.1500, such as those of the Basilica of St. Paul (Augsburg) and of St. Catherine (Augsburg) and especially in his masterly St. Sebastian altarpiece (Munich), Holbein's art shows the influence of Italy. In addition to his painting, Holbein designed stained glass windows for the cathedral at Eichstatt and for the Church of Saints Ulrich and Afra at Augsburg. He also produced a number of remarkable silverpoint portrait drawings that show something of the same talent for which his son Hans became renowned.

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The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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Holbein: court painter of the Reformation.(Hans Holbein) (History Today)

Holbein: anatomy of the first great secular artist: Holbein is being celebrated this year by exhibitions in Basel and London. At Basel, writes Bruce Boucher, the artist's reputation for psychological insight is triumphantly confirmed, together with a range and variety obscured by his reputation as a portraitist.(EXHIBITIONS)(Hans Holbein) (Apollo)

Mortal immortal: Christopher S. Wood on Hans Holbein the Younger.(FROM THE VAULT)(Biography) (Artforum International)

London looks north: a Holbein portrait recently authenticated in Apollo leads a London old master season that is exceptionally strong in northern works.(ART MARKET)(Hans Holbein the Younger) (Apollo)

Holbein at the Tate: Peter Furtado welcomes a major exhibition of the great painter of Henry VIII and his court at Tare Britain.(FRONTLINE)(Hans Holbein, the Younger) (History Today)

Holbein in close-up: the techniques that allowed Holbein to achieve his astounding naturalism are analysed in this sumptuously illustrated account of his work in England.(Holbein and England)(Book Review) (Apollo)

Who was Holbein's Lady with a squirrel and a starling? Ever since it was acquired by the National Gallery, London, in 1992 this celebrated English portrait by Holbein has remained tantalisingly anonymous. A detective trail has led David J King to East Harling in Norfolk, where clues in stained glass and a tomb reveal the sitter's identity.(Critical Essay)(Cover Story) (Apollo)

All but speech: Holbein in England: Tate's majestic overview of Holbein's London years confirms his reputation as one of the greatest portraitists. (Apollo)

Holbein in England.(art exhibitions)(Brief article) (The Magazine Antiques)

Holbein in the hague. (Report from Europe).(Brief Article) (The Magazine Antiques)

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