Hans Holbein the Younger, Volume 2 (of 2)Chamberlain, Arthur B. (Arthur Bensley)
History
Hans Holbein the Younger, Volume 2 (of 2)
Chamberlain, Arthur B. (Arthur Bensley)
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543 -- Criticism and interpretation; Painters -- Germany -- Biography
All three pictures seem to have been based upon the same drawing in the
Windsor Collection, in which the Prince is shown full-face, as a young
child, with a close skull-cap, and a black cap with a feather above it,
and a single frill round his neck.[348] This drawing has been badly
rubbed. There is a second drawing in the same collection, also
full-face, with hair cut closely across the forehead, and a plain black
hat (Pl. 23).[349] This, too, has suffered considerable damage. The
strong brush-work of the outlines stands out with undue emphasis, owing
to the destruction of the more delicate modelling of the crayons. In
this drawing the Prince appears to be at least a couple of years older
than in the other drawing, or in the Hanover picture and its variants.
He looks quite four or five years old. Mr. Wornum thought it might
represent Henry Brandon, afterwards Duke of Suffolk, from its likeness
to the boy in Holbein’s beautiful miniature, the proportions of the face
not quite agreeing with those of the infant Prince;[350] but it is
undoubtedly a portrait of the latter.
Footnote 348:
Woltmann, 326; Wornum, ii. 1; Holmes, not given.
Footnote 349:
Woltmann, 327; Wornum, ii. 2; Holmes, i. 2. Reproduced by Davies, p.
176; Knackfuss, fig. 146; Ganz, _Hdz. von H. H. dem Jüng._, 39.
Footnote 350:
Wornum, p. 407.
There is a third drawing of Edward VI at Windsor, in which he seems to
be quite six, if not older. It is one of the least pleasing of the
series, and if by Holbein, must be almost the last drawing he made, as
the Prince was but six when the painter died. He is shown in profile to
the left, with hat and feather, and almost yellow hair.[351] Several
portraits exist which are based on this drawing, though they are not by
Holbein, among the best of them being the versions in the National
Portrait Gallery,[352] the Victoria and Albert Museum,[353] and the
collection of Lord Sackville. The last-named was at the Burlington Fine
Arts Club in 1909 (No. 60). In this the Prince has golden hair, a black
cap with a white plume, and a purple gown lined with white fur over a
pale pink doublet. His right hand, raised, holds a rose, and his gloves
are in his left. The background is a greenish blue.
Footnote 351:
Woltmann, 328; Wornum, ii. 3; Holmes, ii. 1. Reproduced in _Drawings
of Hans Holbein_ (Newnes), Pl. ii.
Footnote 352:
Reproduced in the illustrated catalogue, National Portrait Gallery,
vol. i. p. 27.
Footnote 353:
Jones Bequest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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