Hans Holbein the Younger

The Ambassadors

 

Relevance to my work:

In the painting The Ambassadors (1533) by Hans Holbein, an anamorphic skull is painted in the bottom third of the painting as well as a tiny crucifix emerging from behind the curtain in the top left hand corner. These two aspects together serve as a ‘reminder that these men are aware of their mortality and of the fact that salvation lies in God, Christ and the afterlife’ (Hinckley et al n.d.)

 

This painting has always been an inspiration to me, as the symbolism used pointed to Church history as well as Dutch still life intentions to bring the viewers thoughts round to their own mortality. Through my work I have attempted to reference the old masters and the symbolism that they used whilst combining this with a contemporary medium to create a contemporary version of the historical theme of vanitas.

 

HINCKLEY, M; GOVIER, L; STEADMAN, P. (n.d.). ‘Professor Philip Steadman and Louise Govier discuss ‘The Ambassadors’’. [video]. Available from: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/content/ConMediaFile/17649?showTranscript=1. Date accessed: [17/04/14].