Description
Today's obsession with the brilliant and deadly court of King Henry VIII would not exist without one man's artistic flair. Hans Holbein the Younger, a German Catholic artist and official painter to the king, who brought the Tudor era to life through more than 100 portraits that masterfully captured the unique expressions of his subjects. His subjects included Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, King Henry, and many of his six wives.
Hans Holbein the Younger's 1533 painting "The Ambassadors" features a rather impressive illusion at its base. Looking at the lopsided image at the bottom of the painting from right to left, it appears to be an anamorphic skull. Scholars believe it is meant as a reminder that death is always just around the corner.
The Ambassadors is ranked no. 58 on the list of famous paintings