Holbein - Beatrice Fortescue

METHUEN & CO.
36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
LONDON

First published in 1904

CONTENTS.

[CHAPTER I.]
HOLBEIN'S PERIOD, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY WORK

Historical epoch and antecedents—Special conditions and characterof early Christian art—Ideals and influence of the monk—Holbein'srelation to mediæval schools—His father, uncle, and Augsburghome—Probable dates for his birth and his father's death—Troublesand dispersion of the Augsburg household—From Augsburg to Basel—Hisbrother Ambrose—Erasmus and the Praise of Folly; someerroneous impressions of both—Erasmus and Holbein no Protestants atheart—Holbein and the Bible—Illustrated Vernacular Bibles incirculation before Luther and Holbein were born—Holbein's earliestBasel oil-paintings—Direct and indirect education—Historical,geographical, and scientific revolutions of his day—Beginning ofhis connection with the Burgomaster of Basel—Jacob Meyer zumHasen—Holbein's woodcuts—His studies from nature—Sudden visitto Lucerne—Italian influence on his art—Work for the Burgomasterof Lucerne

[CHAPTER II.]
HOLBEIN BASILIENSIS (1519-1526)

Holbein Basiliensis—Enters the Painters' Guild—BonifaciusAmerbach and his portrait—The Last Supper and its Judas—The so-called"Fountain of Life" at Lisbon—Genius for design and symbolism inarchitecture—Versatility, humour, fighting scenes—Holbein becomes acitizen and marries—Basel in 1519—Froben's circle—Tremendous eventsand issues of the time—Holbein's religious works—The Nativity andAdoration at Freiburg—Hans Oberriedt—The Basel Passion in eightpanels—Passion Drawings—Christ in the tomb—Christ and Mary Magdalenat the door of the sepulchre—Rathaus wall-paintings—Birth ofHolbein's eldest child—The Solothurn Madonna: its discovery andrescue—Holbein's wife and her portraits—Suggested solutions ofsome biographical enigmas—Title pages—Portraits of Erasmus—Journeyto France, probably to Lyons and Avignon—Publishers and pictures ofthe so-called "Dance of Death"—Dorothea Offenburg as Venus and LaïsCorinthiaca—Triumph of the Protestant party—Holbein decides toleave Basel for a time—The Meyer-Madonna of Darmstadt and Dresden,and its portraits

[CHAPTER III.]
CHANCES AND CHANGES (1526-1530)

First visit to England—Sir Thomas More: his home and portraits—TheWindsor drawings—Bishop Fisher—Archbishop Warham—BishopStokesley—Sir Henry Guildford and his portrait—Nicholas Kratzer—SirBryan Tuke—Holbein's return to Basel—Portrait-group of his wife andtwo eldest children; two versions—Holbein's children, and familiesclaiming descent from him—Iconoclastic fury—Ruined arts—Death ofMeyer zum Hasen—Another Meyer commissions the last paintings forBasel—Return to England—Description of the Steelyard—Portraitsof its members—George Gysze—Basel Council summons Holbeinhome—"The Ambassadors" at the National Gallery; acceptedidentification—Coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn—Lost paintingsfor the Guildhall of the Steelyard; the Triumphs of Riches andPoverty—The great Morett portrait; identifications—Holbein'sindustry and fertility—Designs for metal-work and otherdrawings—Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

[CHAPTER IV.]
PAINTER ROYAL (1536-1543)

Queen Jane Seymour—Death of Erasmus, and title-page portrait—TheWhitehall painting of Henry VIII.—Munich drawing of HenryVIII.—Birth of an heir and the "Jane Seymour Cup"—Death of theQueen—Christina, Duchess of Milan—Secret service for theKing—Flying visit to Basel and arrangements for a permanentreturn—Apprentices his son Philip at Paris—Portrait of thePrince of Wales and the King's return gift—Anne of Cleves—ThomasHoward, Duke of Norfolk—Catherine Howard—Lapse of Holbein'sBasel citizenship—Irregularities—Provision for wife andchildren—Residence in London—Execution of Queen CatherineHoward—Marriage of Catherine Parr—Dr. Chamber—Unfinished workfor the Barber-Surgeons' Hall—Death of Holbein—His will—Place ofburial—Holbein's genius: its true character and greatness

[CATALOGUE OF PRINCIPAL EXISTING WORKS.]

[REFERENCES.]

[INDEX.]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. [a]HOLBEIN] Frontispiece

Self Portrait. From a photograph in the Rischgitz Collection.

2. ["PROSY" AND "HANS" HOLBEIN]

Drawn by their father, Hans Holbein the elder. Silver-point.

3. [SCHOOLMASTER'S SIGNBOARD]

Oils. (Basel Museum.)

4. [JACOB MEYER (ZUM HASEN)]

Oils. (Basel Museum.) From a Photograph in the Rischgitz Collection.

5. [DOROTHEA MEYER] (née KANNEGIESSER)

Oils. (Basel Museum.) From a Photograph in the Rischgitz Collection.

6. [BONIFACIUS AMERBACH]

Oils. (Basel Museum.)

7. [FIGHT OF LANDSKNECHTE]

Washed drawing. (Basel Museum.) From a Photograph in the Rischgitz Collection.

8. [THE NATIVITY]

Oils. (University Chapel, Freiburg Cathedral.)

From a photograph by G. Röbke, Freiburg.

9. [THE PASSION]

I.	GETHSEMANE.	II.	THE KISS OF JUDAS.
III.	BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE.	IV.	THE SCOURGING.
V.	THE MOCKING.	VI.	THE WAY TO CALVARY.
VII.	"IT IS FINISHED."	VIII.	THE ENTOMBMENT.
Eight-panelled Altar-piece. (Basel Museum.)