Holbein at the Tudor Court: Major London Exhibition

The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London hosts 'Holbein at the Tudor Court,' a major exhibition featuring over 106 works including drawings, paintings, miniatures, and book illustrations. The core of the show comprises 80 drawings by Hans Holbein from the Royal Collection, many from the artist's studio—the largest such display in over thirty years. The exhibition runs until April 14, 2024. Senior curator Kate Heard notes Holbein's skill in making figures appear lifelike; preparatory drawings are displayed alongside finished canvases to highlight his talent. Due to high demand, Holbein reduced drawing sizes and expanded his materials (ink, chalk, watercolor, metalpoint) to facilitate transfer. Holbein, born in Augsburg, Germany, son of Hans Holbein the Elder, worked in Germany and Switzerland before becoming court painter to Henry VIII in the early 1530s. He portrayed key figures including Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More, who praised his work in 1526. The exhibition includes a famous copy by Remigius Van Leemput of Holbein's 1537 dynastic portrait of Henry VIII with his parents and third wife.