Biography

1497/98—Hans Holbein the Younger is born in Augsburg, Germany. The second son of the painter Hans Holbein the Elder (ca. 1460–1524), he is trained in his father’s workshop.

1515—Hans the Younger moves to the Swiss city of Basel alongside his older brother, Ambrosius, and launches his career as an independent painter and print designer the following year.

1519—Ambrosius, who was also active as an artist, dies. Hans the Younger marries Elsbeth Schmidt-Binzenstock.

1523—Holbein paints his first portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam, beginning a decades-long collaboration with the esteemed humanist.

1524— The artist visits France, likely hoping to obtain a position at the court of King Francis I.

1526—Equipped with letters of introduction from Erasmus to humanists Pieter Gillis in Antwerp and Sir Thomas More in London, Holbein travels to England via Antwerp. After two productive years, he returns to Basel.

1532—The turmoil that accompanies the Protestant Reformation and a dearth of significant commissions in Basel lead Holbein to pursue his fortunes once again in England.

1536—Around this time, Holbein is appointed court painter to King Henry VIII (1491–1547). He finds additional patrons among prominent members of the Tudor court as well as the community of German merchants living in London.

1543—Holbein dies in London at about the age of forty-five, probably a victim of the plague.