HOLBEIN, JOHN, or HANS, is considered by the Germans to be their best painter next to Albert Dem, whom he however excelled iu portraits. He painted equally well in oil, water-colours, and distemper, on a large scale and in miniature, and was besides well skilled in architecture. It is rather remarkable that neither the data nor even the place of his birth has been precisely ascertained. Some accounta say that ho was born iu 1498, others in 1495: the place of his birth has usually been supposed to have been either Augsburg or Basel ; but from recent researches it would appear to have been Clriinatadt, formerly the residence of the counts of Leiningen.Westerburg. Ile was instructed in the art of painting by his father, whom he soon excelled. Accompanying hie father to Basel, he became acquainted with Erasmus, who was residing there in order to superintend the printing of his works. llolbeiu painted several portraits of Erasmus, who gave him a latter of recommendation to Sir Thomas More, and he went to England in 1526. Sir Thomas took him into hie house, and after having employed him for three years, invited King usury VIII. to ace the pictures which Holbein had painted fur him. The king was so delighted with them, that he immediately took Hol bein into hie service, and gave him ample employment, for which he recompensed him with royal munificence. The favour of the king and his own extraordinary merit concurred to bring him into vogue; an that notwithstanding his indefatigable diligence and rapid execution, he was so fully engaged in painting portraits of tho nobility and eminent public characters, that he had no leisure in England for historical painting. Of his skill in this department he had given decided proofs
before he left Basel, and many of his pictures are still to be seen in that city. It appears however that he adorned the walls of a saloon in the palace of Whitehall with two great allegorical compositions representing the triumphs of riches and poverty. He likewise executed large pictures of various public transactions, such as Henry VIII. giving a charter to the barber-surgeons, and Edward VI. giving the charter for the foundation of Bridewell HospitaL Holbein was equally remarkable for the freedom and spirit of his pencil, the lightness of his touch, clearness and brilliancy of tone, and exquisite finishing. Though from his long residence in England his original pictures must have been very numerous, yet there can be no doubt that, as they represented well-known characters, many copies, of various degrees of nierit, were made even during his life. This fact is too little considered in England, where portraits wholly unworthy of him are ascribed to his pencil by persons who forget that in refined feeling for nature, accurate delineation of the parts, and vigour of style, his best portraits have an honourable place beside those of the greatest masters. He died at London of the plague in 1554.