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Hans Holbein

Famous as the court painter of Henry VIII, Hans Holbein, the Younger, is the subject of an exhibition currently on display at the Mauritshuis in the Hague from August 15, 2003 through to November 16, 2003.

The Mauritshuis is the only Dutch Museum that owns Holbein works and it is thrilled to be the host of this exhibition. Hans Holbein (1497/8-1543) has been amassed from Berlin, Braunschweig, Florence, Frankfurt, London, New York, Washington and Vienna collections.

Of particular emphasis in Hans Holbein (1497/8-1543) is the Holbein drawing collection owned by Queen Elizabeth usually kept at Windsor Castle. The Mauritshuis selected sixteen of these works - usually drawn by Holbein prior to his painting the portrait. Five drawings are accompanied with their paintings. Holbein painted Henry VIII, his wives, potential wives, and children. His works portrayed important people in the Tudor court including Ambassadors and merchants.

Holbein was born in Augsburg, Germany, the second son of Hans Holbein the Elder. Both brothers learned their craft in their father's studio. Hans apprenticed in Basel. Before he was twenty, Holbein the Younger painted his first major commission, the  Mayor of Basel. He was acquainted with and painted the Dutch philosopher and intellectual Erasmus.

Hans Holbein certainly developed his own individual manner of capturing the character of his subject.

Viewing the work of Holbein we can see how his incredible talent for developing beyond the portrait and into the depth of character of the sitter is what made him unique in his field. His portraits were notoriously realistic with perhaps the most infamous exception being than of Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of Henry VIII. Holbein's portrait was flattering, however, Henry when first viewing Anne upon her arrival to England proclaimed her "Flander's Mare" describing Henry's unappreciative view of Anne's appearance. Henry did marry Anne but the marriage was quickly annulled and she along with Catherine Parr were the only two of Henry's wives to survive him.

Despite Henry's disdain for Anne actual appearance in Holbein's work, Holbein is considered one of the greatest artists ever.

In addition to the two unique works in the Mauritshuis, about 20 paintings, 3 miniatures and 20 drawings will be on display for the Hans Holbein (1497/8-1543) exhibition.

The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of Rabobank, Unilever.

The Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis was built between 1634 and 1644 for Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen (1604-1679) a famous general and one time Governor-General for the Dutch West India Company in Brazil. Jacob van Campen designed the building based on the Dutch classicist style. The exterior is relatively unchanged. The interior, however, was destroyed in 1704 and rebuilt.

Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, the famous Venetian decorative artist painted the ceiling and wall of the new Banqueting Hall, known as the Golden Room, in 1718. Pellegrini was known for his graceful decorations and was a popular artist across Europe in his time.

It wasn't until 1822 that the Mauritshuis housed paintings.

Gallery Prince Willem V

Among the famous works amassed by Willem V and on display in the gallery named for him include Peter Paul Rubens' Adam and Eve in Paradise; and Paulus Potter's Bull.

Willem V (1748-1806) was a great collector preferring  Dutch 17th-century paintings and was primarily interested in landscapes and lavish still-life. In 1795 the collection was seized by the French and displayed in the Louvre until approximately 1815 when most of the paintings were returned to The Netherlands and King Willem I donated them to the State.

Willem I presented several outstanding works that are still on display. Vermeer's The View of Delft; Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp; and Rogier van der Weyden's Lamentation of Christ are among many other works that he donated.

The Mauritshuis recently acquired Rembrandt's Portrait of an Old Man.

The Royal Cabinet of Paintings Mauritshuis is located in the Center of the Hague at the corner of the Hofvijver directly adjacent to the government buildings at Korte Vijverberg 8 2501 CM The Hague.