My initial thoughts about Hans Holbein the Younger’s, The Ambassadors, is that it is a rich piece of art that has an important story to tell. The two stoic young men, seemingly dressed of royalty, stand with an indication of pride by a table of items. The painting gives the feeling that these items help to represent the importance of those standing next to them. The fabrics shown in the painting appear luxuriously heavy and to be of great quality, from the dark green curtain in the background to the fur and velvet-like coats donned by the men.
The one aspect of work that most interests me in this piece are the finely arranged objects and the wonder of what they represent. On the table in this painting, the objects on display appear to be globes, musical instruments, books, a hymnal, and devices for measurement. Of all the objects in this art piece, the one that creates the most wonder and interest is the small and slightly hidden crucifix in the upper left portion of the painting and the large, distorted, skull-like object lying on the ground between the two men. With the abundance of material, fine detail, and symbolism this painting sparks curiosity of the meaning standing behind it all.
The Ambassadors, by Hans Holbein the Younger is a painting created during the Renaissance Period in 1533. Historically, this time period is defined as a rebirth. It is a time of revival for literature, philosophy, architecture, Classical art, and learning (Mind Edge, Inc., 2015). The Renaissance is the time period which followed the middle ages in European Civilization (Renaissance, 2015). It was a time of new discovery and exploration. Gunpowder, printing, the mariner’s compass, new continents, and astrology were among the things newly discovered (Renaissance, 2015). The Renaissance followed after a period of lengthy stagnation and cultural decline. It was thought to be a time of revival of classical thinking by scholars of this day. The Renaissance spirit is commonly expressed by an intellectual movement called humanism (Mind Edge, Inc., 2015). Humanism is thought of as an idea which can be applied to various beliefs, methods, and philosophies that place the majority of emphasis on the human realm (Renaissance, 2015).
It has been noted that Europeans have embarked on maritime explorations around the world to achieve geographical dominance over one another in the early 15th to 17th century (Mind Edge, Inc., 2015). With such innovations the Renaissance was becoming known as an Age of Exploration. Ship design, navigational charts, and scientific instruments were all beginning to improve.
In regards to religion during this era, the Roman Catholic Church was facing a number of dissenters to its authority. The greatest dissent with the church was the Protestant movement. Within the Protestant movement was the Anglican Church which was formed by King Henry VIII of England when the Pope refused to annual his marriage (Mind Edge, Inc., 2105). The Church’s influence and image were weakened during the time when rival popes in Avignon and Rome battled for control (Mind Edge, Inc., 2015).
The arts of the Renaissance Period were impacted by several cultural and social factors including the overall atmosphere of this time celebrating innovation, experimentation and change. One of the innovations in Renaissance art included the development of mathematical or linear perspective in paintings. There was also an accumulation of wealth in the cities that helped to fund patronage of the arts during this time (Mind Edge, Inc., 2015).
Hans Holbein the Younger, the artist of The Ambassadors, was born in 1497 or 1498, in Germany. He was a painter, draftsman, and designer, renowned for the precise rendering of his drawings and the compelling realism of his portraits, in particular, those recording the court of King Henry VIII of England (Harbison, 2015). The Ambassadors is a double portrait of the French ambassadors to King Henry VIII’s court. This was created in 1533 at the time when King Henry VIII is about to break away from Rome and leave the Roman Catholic Church. The artistic style of this piece includes a new concept introduced during the Renaissance Period called Anamorphosis. Anamorphosis is defined as a distorted projection or perspective (The Ambassadors, 2015). This requires the viewer to use special devices or a specific vantage point to see the full, true image. This technique is displayed in The Ambassador’s by Holbein. The object lying on the ground between the two men in the portrait becomes the clear image of a skull when the painting is turned or viewed at an angle. In regards to Hans Holbien the Younger, it’s important to note that he came from a family of important artists. His father, Hans Holbein the Elder, and his uncle Sigmund were known for their conservative examples of late Gothic painting in Germany (Harbison, 2015). Hans Holbein had a brother, Ambrosius, who became a painter as well, but he apparently died in 1519 before reaching maturity as an artist. It should be noted that this chronology places Holbein in the second generation of 16th-century German artists (Harbison, 2015).
The painting, The Ambassadors, explores a variety of themes of the Renaissance Period including humanism, scientific expansion, self-fashioning, and reformation. One theme that seems to be particularly explored in this art piece is the idea of self-fashioning, also known as individualism. The two young French Ambassadors in the painting are showing representation of their identity by their choice of dress. They display heavy velvet, fine furs, elaborate stitching’s, detailed patterning and design, and jewels of gold. This art work is relevant to today’s audiences because it shares a piece of the true history of innovation and reformation that was taking place at this time. Changes were taking form during this period that impact the lives of today. Humanity has made enormous leaps and bounds in scientific inquiry and technological developments since the Renaissance days. We can simply look back to this painting to see that our present achievements can be credited to the people of the 16th century. After analyzing and researching Hans Holbein the Younger and his painting, The Ambassadors, I have a stronger understanding of the importance of this art piece, the artist, and the time period in which it was created. I’m mostly amazed that although this painting contains many objects and material pieces, it really is a picture about the things we cannot see.
It explains a time of discord in the church, cosmic order, achievement, and wealth. My favorite aspect about this piece is the symbolistic display of the crucifix and the anamorphic skull, explaining the limits of earthly life. For Holbein, this painting captures his artistic brilliance and his contributions to the rich history of the Renaissance Period.

References

The Ambassadors (Holbein). (2015, November 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:32, November 11, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Ambassadors_(Holbein)&oldid=689523015

Harbison, Craig S. Hans Holbein the Younger. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Hans-Holbein-the-Younger

Mind Edge Inc. (2015) Introduction to Humanities: The Renaissance. Retrieved from https://wgu.mindedgeonline.com/content.php?cid=33387

Renaissance. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from
http://www.britannica.com/event/Renaissance