Sir Thomas More (1487-1535) (after Holbein the younger)
after Hans Holbein the younger (Augsburg 1497/8 - London 1543)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1500 - 1599
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
749 x 584 mm (29 1/2 x 23 in)
Collection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 598039
Summary
Oil painting on panel. Sir Thomas More (1487-1535) (after a portrait of 1527), after Hans Holbein the younger (Augsburg 1497/8 - London 1543), 16th century. A half-length portrait of Sir Thomas More, seated to the right; right arm resting on a parapet, left; his hands, the right holding a paper, almost joined before him; grey eyes turned to the right; brown hair; he wears a black bonnet over a skull-cap, a black coat with a broad brown fur collar, undersleeves of scarlet velvet; around his neck there is a chain of SS; green curtains fringed with grey looped to the left in the background; lit from the front, right; the parapet inscribed; MDXXVII.
Provenance
Possibly identical with one of the two major versions other than the Frick original; first recorded when sold anonymously by the 5th Duke of Bedford at Christie's, 30 June 1827 (lot 83); bought Nieuwenhuys and sold by their Brussels branch to William II, King of Holland; bought in at his sale, Paris, 1850 and passed by descent to Prince zu Wied from whose family it was purchased by Dr Peter Grcic; purchased by the NPG, 1964; on loan to Montacute House (NT).
Marks and inscriptions
Reverse of the panel: Seal of the King of Holland and a label (since removed) inscribed: Duke of Bedford / [ ]lle[ ]li
Makers and roles
after Hans Holbein the younger (Augsburg 1497/8 - London 1543), artist