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
The companion picture, in the Berlin Gallery (No. 586B) (Pl. 3),
represents Hermann Hillebrandt Wedigh.[38] Like that of his brother, it
is a small half-length. He stands directly facing the spectator, the
left hand holding his buff-coloured gloves, and the right half hidden by
the heavy dark-brown cloak, with black velvet collar and velvet at the
wrists, the folds of which are finely arranged and painted. This cloak
lacks the customary fur collar. The white shirt, partly open and showing
the bare chest beneath, is tied in the front by long strings passed
through a white button, and the embroidered collar is almost hidden by
his beard. A flat black cap is on his head, of the type worn by all the
Steelyard merchants in Holbein’s portraits. The hair, beard, and long
moustache are fair, the separate hairs being indicated with almost
microscopic care. The eyes are brown, the left one being decidedly
smaller than the right, and there is a corresponding difference in the
development of the two sides of the face. There are no accessories of
any kind, and upon the plain blue background, on either side of the
head, is inscribed, in gold letters: “ANNO. 1533.” and “ÆTATIS SVÆ. 39.”
The gold ring is enamelled in red, white and black, and in the circle
round the coat of arms there are some letters now undecipherable. This
is one of the finest and most sympathetic portraits ever painted by
Holbein. The face, in spite of its slight irregularity, is one of great
charm and much sweetness of expression. The drawing of the hands and
mouth is particularly fine.[39]
Footnote 38:
Woltmann, 116. Reproduced by Dickes, p. 79; Knackfuss, fig. 121; Ganz,
_Holbein_, p. 98; and in colour in _Early German Painters_, folio v.
Footnote 39:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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