Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger (tactile)

Synopsis

Date: 1533. Medium: Oil on oak. Size: 207 cm high by 210cm wide. Information about the painting The painting portrays two educated, wealthy and powerful diplomats; Jean de Dintville, the French Ambassador to England and his friend, George de Selve, Bishop of Lavaur. Both men were in London in 1533 to safeguard relations between the King of France and Henry VIII at a time of great religious and political uncertainty. Jean de Dinteville commissioned this painting from Holbein (1497/8-1543) to hang in his chateau of Polisy. Overview description of the painting [The letter/letters given in brackets refer to labelling on the tactile images.] This huge panel, painted with meticulous attention to detail is one of the earliest portraits combining the depiction of two full-length figures that are also life-size in scale. Jean de Dentville is on our left and George de Selve on the right. They stand a step back from us on a pavement patterned with coloured pieces of stone, similar to the floor in Westminster Abbey. Facing to the front, they gaze out of the painting and engage us with inscrutable expressions. Between them is a large piece of furniture with two shelves on which are arrayed a variety of objects, giving an indication of their wide-ranging interests. Jean de Dentville rests his left elbow (LE) and George de Selve his right on the top shelf (R). At the bottom near the left corner of the painting, the perplexing image of a distorted skull stretches diagonally across the foreground to the right. Behind the two men, a rich, green damask curtain is parted in the top left corner to reveal a tiny silver crucifix (CF).

Copyright:

2011

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Publisher:

RNIB

Date of Addition:

04/12/17

Copyrighted By:

RNIB

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Art and Architecture

Submitted By:

Sarah Bennett

Proofread By:

N/A

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.