Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?)
Original title: Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?)
kurzbeschreibung
A man whose identity remains uncertain, possibly Sir Ralph Sadler, appears in this round portrait painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1535. Executed in oil and gold on oak, the picture measures 30.5 cm in diameter. The sitter is dressed in dark clothing with a black cap and a white collar.
Description
Unlike many portraits of the period, this one presents the man as a bust within a circle. He wears a dark gown, a white collar and a black cap; his hands are clasped, the right one holding a book or document. The background is a uniform deep blue, beneath it the inscriptions 'ANNO DOMI 1535' and 'ETATIS SVAE 28'. A dark wooden frame surrounds the painting.
Context
Holbein made the portrait in 1535, while he was working at the court of Henry VIII in England. Who the sitter is stays unclear; the attribution to Sir Ralph Sadler, an English statesman, is considered uncertain. The inscription 'ETATIS SVAE 28' gives the man's age as 28. Round portraits of this kind were widespread in the Renaissance, both in England and on the continent.
Impact
The round format and the deep blue background draw the eye toward the man's face. Dark clothing and a serious expression give the figure dignity and restraint. The precise rendering of the facial features and the fine handling of paint create an immediate closeness to the sitter.
Technique
Oil and gold on oak — a technique typical of Holbein — form the basis of the painting. The gold may point to a precious setting. Extremely fine brushwork and a detailed rendering of fabric and face characterize Holbein's portraiture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)