Holbein’s, The ambassadors
In Hans Holbein’s artwork the Ambassadors, the bizarre anamorphic skull extended across the base of the painting is an obvious representation of death and morbidity. The blankness of the two characters’ expressions lends to the idea that they aren’t unaware of the foreboding nature of the scene. Perhaps, due to the vast array of instruments and tools of learning strewn in the background, the two ambassadors are intelligible men who understand the fragility of their human circumstances which would not be surprising given Georges de Selve’s work in the Church. The Ambassador’s is a painting that manages to hold the same respect as the men themselves were given when they were alive. The painting has many colours of wealth as well as a gloomy effect. The painting has a lot of richness and intent in it, even the marble floors have been given so much detail to show the effort the artist went to, to create the idea of wealth. The two men in the painting are Jean de Dinteville, aged 29, French ambassador to England in 1533. To the right stands his friend, Georges de Selve, aged 25, bishop of Lavaur, who acted on several occasions as ambassador to the Emperor, the Venetian Republic and the Holy See. These men new each other because they were both on a mission to spy on the English because it was the period that King George was creating the religion ‘Church of England’ so that he could marry his lover, and get divorced from his 2nd wife. At this time the Pope in Rome was much followed and no one wanted his power jeopardized so they went to England to scoop out what has happening and if they were going to ditch the religious tradition that have been intact for many years. Both man are very well portrayed in this painting as the artist has especially made the idea of wealth is huge part of this painting. Jean De Dinteville is wearing a massive fur, blood red (colour of much wealth) coat. Dinteville’s whole outfit portrays wealth, he has a gold chain on, very well dressed and is holding a sort of arrogance. Jean De DInteville stance is another obvious factor in this painting as he is standing very strong and is leaning on the table filled with significant objects. George De Sleve is wearing a usual bishop collar and long cloak, which is also outlined in fur, De Sleve is not as arrogant about his wealth in his clothing but you can see that he is wealthy from the material of his coat. The table in between them has many significant objects symbolising a assortment of things. There is a music book containing a religious hymn written by Martin Luther, Martin Luther was a well respected religious leader, there is a crucifix that symbolises life, a lute which is a musical instrument and the most important thing in this painting is a anamorphic, that not many people notice from close up, it is a stretched skull creating the illusion that there is a displaced piece of draft wood in the middle of a classical painting, the skull is a symbol for death, which was a prominent topic in the 1500’s. This painting emphasis wealth, symbolisation and reverberates the issues of the times. The paintings materials consisted of oil paints, it was a transformation from tempera to oil that Holbein bravely took. The oil created a very tactile sensation to the painting. The painting also had a photographic realism which was becoming a trending theme in the 1500’s as the painters discovered that they were able to use geometry to there advantage. The positioning of the two men in this painting has been well thought out so that when you look at this large painting you feel that the two men are superior to you because you are looking up to the painting. |
The Ambassadors1533,
Hans Holbein the Younger The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN |