Holbein (renaissance Master)

Description

By (author) Goldring Elizabeth

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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. From his early days in Augsburg and Basel to his lasting impact on British art and culture, this definitive account breathes new life into Holbein’s story, shedding 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, with 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.
 
Distributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art

Review quote:

‘magnificent … [Holbein’s] great achievement was to bring before us the living, breathing men and women who plotted, suffered, contrived and triumphed through the most terrifying decades of English history. And it is Goldring’s achievement to show us the magic by which this happened.’ – Kathryn Hughes, The Guardian, 29 November 2025

‘authoritative and no-nonsense but rarely dry … [Goldring] doesn’t shy away from the unruliness and violence of 16th-century society, nixing any notion that Holbein led a cloistered, academic life. In this telling, as well as having a messy love life, Holbein liked his beer, and seemingly once got into trouble for brawling in the street.’ – Alastair Sooke, The Daily Telegraph, 29 November 2025

‘a magnificent celebration of the artist who, more than any other, shaped our vision of the Tudors … A huge, sumptuous feast of a book.’ – Laura Freeman, The Times (‘Books of the Year/The Ten Best Art Books for Christmas 2025′), 29 November 2025

Featured on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, 24 November 2025

A recommended ‘Book for Christmas 2025′ – The Daily Telegraph, 15 November 2025

‘Holbein’s pictures must have seemed miraculous when they appeared in Tudor England. In fact they still do. Seeing them is like opening a window into the past … Elizabeth Goldring’s splendid Holbein: Renaissance Master, richly illustrated, readable yet highly scholarly, does justice to his achievement.’ – Martin Gayford, The Spectator (‘Best Art Books of 2025/Recommended Art Books for Christmas 2025), 15 November 2025

‘Considering the fame of his greatest works, the paucity of documentary evidence for the details of Hans Holbein’s life is remarkable. Elizabeth Goldring’s achievement is equally so. This is the first full-scale scholarly biography for a century … . In Britain, Holbein is primarily remembered for his portraits of swaggering Henry or the French Ambassadors and the drawings of courtiers, but this fine book gives us the wider picture, including his metalwork designs. There is hardly an illustration that one can look at without murmuring “heavens, that’s good”.’ – Huon Mallalieu, Country Life, 12 November 2025

‘deeply researched … Holbein the artist comes vividly to life, with Goldring’s careful analysis supplemented by more than 250 high-quality reproductions … [an] engaging and beautiful book’ – Katherine Harvey, The Times (‘Book of the Week’), 1 November 2025 

‘definitive’ – Arts Society Magazine, autumn 2025

“Engaging and beautif