Hans Holbein, The Ambassadors Essay -- essays research papers

Hans HolbeinThe Ambassadors&10086IntroductionThe Ambassadors is one of the most complex and arguably portrait which Holbein had varicoloured. The mark of this report is to analyze Han Holbein?fs ikon, ?gThe Ambassadors?h. The main task of this report is to uncover the center of this word-painting, as it still remains unclear. Firstly, I go forth give a short introduction about the painter. Then, I pull up stakes examine the characteristics of the flock and the objects in the painting. Lastly, I will attempt to identify the meaning of the painting. &10086 or so Han HolbeinHans Holbein the younger was a German machinationist born in Augsburg, Bavaria. He was an outstanding portrait and religious painter and his works ranges from woodcuts, glass paintings, illustrating books, portraits and altarpieces. Hans Holbein was as well as the appointed court painter to Henry VIII of England in 1536. It is estimated that during the final 10 years of his life, Holbein painted approxima tely 150 portraits of royalty and aristocracy and he also designed costumes, silverw ar and jewelry for the court. Holbein?fs other famous art works include the remarkable woodcuts piece, ?gThe Dance of Death?h and illustrations for Luthers Bible, the ?gMadonna of Burgomaster Meye?h altarpiece. Unfortunately, Holbein died in London in 1543 during a plague epidemic.&10086The AmbassadorsThis painting was painted at the time that Henry VIII was trying to divorce his commencement ceremony wife Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Bolyne, the second of his six wives. pillowcase Two men in the paintingThe character to the left is blue jean de Dinteville, aged 29, French ambassador to England in 1533. To the right stands his friend, Georges de Selve, aged 25, Bishop of Lavaur, who acted on several?occasions as ambassador to the Emperor, the Venetian Republic and the holy See. Dinteville wearing an opulent, fur-lined coat and decorated with the Order of St. Michael, while de Selve s clothes are more restrained. The French ambassador Dinteville was on an official visit from France to quiet the growing tensions between Henry VIII, King of England, and Pope Clement VII. On the other hand, De Selve commissioning was to represent the interests of the Catholic Church. Two of them are honourable friends and this painting was painted during Dinteville?fs visit to London. Objects on the Top Shelf in that location a... ...how the way Holbein had drew the skull. According to the experts, it?fs real shape could only be seen by the viewer on a certain rake. I comic that when the viewer look at it the right angle, the real shape will reveal but the other part of the painting would not microscopical in the viewer?fs eye. This is very interesting as it might induct another deep meaning to the painting. Maybe Holbein was trying to suggest that the dickens men look at things at a different angle and think differently. If they could think flexibly, they might be able t o find a way to persuade Henry VIII . Was Holbein trying to hint dungaree de Dinteville and George de Selve to think at a different perspective to complete their mission? The distorted skull might be an indication that if both men ?es thinking are distorted and not on the right track, it will lead to the failure of the mission. Whatever it is I personally think that this painting has a message to it but of all the analysis made by the expert, nobody can be sure of the real meaning of the painting except the artist himself. References Foister, Susan, Roy Ashok & Martin Wyld, Making & Meaning Holbein?fs Ambassadors, London Yale U.P., 1997