Holbein

Historical epoch and antecedents--Special conditions and character of early Christian art--Ideals and influence of the monk--Holbein's relation to mediæval schools--His father, uncle, and Augsburg home--Probable dates for his birth and his father's death--Troubles and dispersion of the Augsburg household--From Augsburg to Basel--His brother Ambrose--Erasmus and the Praise of Folly; some erroneous impressions of both--Erasmus and Holbein no Protestants at heart--Holbein and the Bible--Illustrated Vernacular Bibles in circulation before Luther and Holbein were born--Holbein's earliest Basel oil-paintings--Direct and indirect education--Historical, geographical, and scientific revolutions of his day--Beginning of his connection with the Burgomaster of Basel--Jacob Meyer zum Hasen--Holbein's woodcuts--His studies from nature--Sudden visit to Lucerne--Italian influence on his art--Work for the Burgomaster of Lucerne 1

CHAPTER II

HOLBEIN BASILIENSIS (1519-1526)

Holbein Basiliensis--Enters the Painters' Guild--Bonifacius Amerbach and his portrait--The Last Supper and its Judas--The so-called "Fountain of Life" at Lisbon--Genius for design and symbolism in architecture--Versatility, humour, fighting scenes--Holbein becomes a citizen and marries--Basel in 1519--Froben's circle--Tremendous events and issues of the time--Holbein's religious works--The Nativity and Adoration at Freiburg--Hans Oberriedt--The Basel Passion in eight panels--Passion Drawings--Christ in the tomb--Christ and Mary Magdalen at the door of the sepulchre--Rathaus wall-paintings--Birth of Holbein's eldest child--The Solothurn Madonna: its discovery and rescue--Holbein's wife and her portraits--Suggested solutions of some biographical enigmas--Title pages--Portraits of Erasmus--Journey to France, probably to Lyons and Avignon--Publishers and pictures of the so-called "Dance of Death"--Dorothea Offenburg as Venus and Laïs Corinthiaca--Triumph of the Protestant party--Holbein decides to leave Basel for a time--The Meyer-Madonna of Darmstadt and Dresden, and its portraits 45

CHAPTER III

CHANCES AND CHANGES (1526-1530)

First visit to England--Sir Thomas More: his home and portraits--The Windsor drawings--Bishop Fisher--Archbishop Warham--Bishop Stokesley--Sir Henry Guildford and his portrait--Nicholas Kratzer--Sir Bryan Tuke--Holbein's return to Basel--Portrait-group of his wife and two eldest children; two versions--Holbein's children, and families claiming descent from him--Iconoclastic fury--Ruined arts--Death of Meyer zum Hasen--Another Meyer commissions the last paintings for Basel--Return to England--Description of the Steelyard--Portraits of its members--George Gysze--Basel Council summons Holbein home--"The Ambassadors" at the National Gallery; accepted identification--Coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn--Lost paintings for the Guildhall of the Steelyard; the Triumphs of Riches and Poverty--The great Morett portrait; identifications--Holbein's industry and fertility--Designs for metal-work and other drawings--Solomon and the Queen of Sheba 114

CHAPTER IV

PAINTER ROYAL (1536-1543)

Queen Jane Seymour--Death of Erasmus, and title-page portrait--The Whitehall painting of Henry VIII.--Munich drawing of Henry VIII.--Birth of an heir and the "Jane Seymour Cup"--Death of the Queen--Christina, Duchess of Milan--Secret service for the King--Flying visit to Basel and arrangements for a permanent return--Apprentices his son Philip at Paris--Portrait of the Prince of Wales and the King's return gift--Anne of Cleves--Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk--Catherine Howard--Lapse of Holbein's Basel citizenship--Irregularities--Provision for wife and children--Residence in London--Execution of Queen Catherine Howard--Marriage of Catherine Parr--Dr. Chamber--Unfinished work for the Barber-Surgeons' Hall--Death of Holbein--His will--Place of burial--Holbein's genius: its true character and greatness 156

CATALOGUE OF PRINCIPAL EXISTING WORKS 188

REFERENCES 189

INDEX 199

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. HOLBEIN Frontispiece Self Portrait. From a photograph in the Rischgitz Collection.

2. "PROSY" AND "HANS" HOLBEIN 16 Drawn by their father, Hans Holbein the elder. Silver-point. (Berlin Cabinet.)

3. SCHOOLMASTER'S SIGNBOARD 26 Oils. (Basel Museum.)