Where Is Holbein's 'Ambassadors' Displayed?

Holbein's Ambassadors is part of the British national art collection, and currently hangs in the National Gallery in London.

The painting depicts Jean de Dintville, the French ambassador to England at the time of the painting, and a friend. Rather than a simple portrait, the piece is notable for its meticulously realistic portrayal of several still-life objects, and its extraordinary visual effect. On the table behind the subjects can be seen several objects which relate to the explorative careers of the two men: one can see two globes and a sextant, as well as various oriental textiles. The most famous element of the painting, however, is the skull at its bottom, which is skewed to such an extent that it is virtually impossible to determine what it is when looking at the composition face-on. The viewer must move to the side of the painting to see the skull in correct proportion, a technique known as anamorphic perspective which was pioneered by the early Rennaissance painters.

Add Comment

Report