Hans Holbein's Ambassador's
Inside a room, surrounded by a regal, silken green Curtin, the French Jean de Dinteville stands proudly, his arm leaning on a bookshelf and limply hanging, whilst the other loosely grips a dagger hanging by his side. The gentleman is adorned in fine silken and fur garments, which add to the enormity of his presence. Around his neck is a heavy gold chain, and his eyes are passive yet intimidating in their glare. On the other side of the bookshelf stands his friend, Georges de Selve. A bishop, he is dressed in minimal, modest black garments- however his wealth is still exemplified in the intricate details in his robe. In his right hand he clutches a single leather black glove. The bookshelf is littered with objects- books, globes, and instruments. The painting is Hans Holbein’s masterpiece “the ambassadors”-which appears to be a magnificent painting of two wealthy gentleman, embodying their glory and knowledge and power. However, in the very top left corner of the composition, a silver crucifix with Jesus pokes out from behind the Curtin. And, even more unusual, a distorted, un-recognisable shape has been painted in the direct centre of the lower part of the painting. This single object changes the whole meaning of the painting- and then more symbolism is uncovered in almost every aspect of the work- so it becomes not a beautiful painting of glory, but a formidable painting of death, and human impermanence.
The scene is one of valour and wealth, yet with a sinister underlying theme of death. The valour and wealth is exemplified in the two ambassadors and their incredibly sophisticated and admirable garments, clearly only for the wealthy. They wear silk and fur and black robes, adorned in gold chains and rings. The pure size and stance of Jean de Dinteville is indicative of utter power and wealth. But the meaning of the work is not the obvious, and quite the opposite to the wealth of these two men. Holbein has riddled the work with clever symbolism, all of which can be related back to the major issue of the time- the reformation of the church, creating divides between empires and leaders. As well as this, Holbein is hinting at themes of death and human impermanence through the objects painted- as they represent the temporary joys of wealth experienced by humans; fleeting pleasures that will be swallowed by death, and one day mean nothing. Almost all of the symbolism is hidden within the objects on the shelves. Holbein intended for the lower shelf to represent earthly matters and mortality, whilst the top shelf represents heavenly belongings and a transcendent element.
On the lower shelf, the objects are indicative of the problem of the reformation. A book is opened, clearly exhibiting a hymn by Martin Luther, and beside it is a Lute, with a single broken string- representing the discord in the church at the time. As well as this, there is a territorial globe set on it’s side- displaying the territories of Europe, where the reformation was taking place. As well as this, in front of the globe is an arithmetic book, which has been opened on a page about division- and beside it a set of dividers are featured. These objects and symbols are quite obviously representing the idea of the divides in the church at the time. All of the objects on the lower shelf are exposing themes of an earthly matter. In direct comparison, the top shelf features symbols to do with the heavens, and life above earth- yet still filled with the same symbolism. On the shelf are various astronomy instruments- representing the heavens above earth. There is also a celestial globe-opposite to the terrestrial one on the bottom shelf- and it’s coordinates have been set on Rome. This symbolises the idea that Rome is still the centre of religion, and is a reference to the reformation. What Holbein did by separating the contents an meaning of each shelf, was create a theme in the work of life and death. However, this strong theme is largely hidden in other parts of the work.
Death and mortality in the work come in very subtle ways. On the book that Georges de Selve has his arm resting on, is his age in Latin. Similarly, Jean de Dinteville’s age is encrypted on his dagger. The placement of the men’s age is representing life and living, and the idea of death drawing closer as they age. It is also an idea that is in contrast to the initial atmosphere of wealth and power- as we slowly see the wealth and power in the men become such a trivial issue, as it is impermanent. As well as this, the hidden crucifix in the corner represents salvation and life after death- the crucifix is hidden to show how death is unseen, and the men are oblivious to it due to their fortune. But, probably most importantly, the object in the middle. This distorted shape is really a skull- when viewed at from the far right corner. Holbein has painted this anamorphic skull in such a way that it is unidentifiable from front on, and you have to change your perspective to see it. The skull represents death, and the way that Holbein has composed it is truly genius, and further indicates ideas of death. It is right in the front of the painting, stretching out and covering some of the shelves. It is right there, yet nobody can identify it. Nobody knows what it is- because we are focusing on the wealthy men, and are in awe of their beauty and power. But once we change our perspective, we can recognise it. Much like death- people are blind to the fact that life is fleeting, and pleasures and wealth are temporary. We do not see death, because we are obsessed with momentary pleasures and greed. We need to change our perspectives away from wealth (the painting) and recognise that death is around us, and there are human limitations. It is quite a morbid theme. The skull is a reminder of death and fleeting life- in contrast with the paintings scenes of life and knowledge. The skull represents the idea that human mortality obscures a direct vision of god and death.
‘The ambassadors’ is perhaps one of the most complex, sophisticated and genius masterpieces of the art world. It is a historical recount of the reformation era, a portrait of two wealthy men in all their glory, yet it is a reminder that death is everywhere, yet humans are blind to it because of our mortality. Hans Holbein in this painting has given the audience so much to evaluate it is overwhelming- and at the same time, exciting and beautiful.
The scene is one of valour and wealth, yet with a sinister underlying theme of death. The valour and wealth is exemplified in the two ambassadors and their incredibly sophisticated and admirable garments, clearly only for the wealthy. They wear silk and fur and black robes, adorned in gold chains and rings. The pure size and stance of Jean de Dinteville is indicative of utter power and wealth. But the meaning of the work is not the obvious, and quite the opposite to the wealth of these two men. Holbein has riddled the work with clever symbolism, all of which can be related back to the major issue of the time- the reformation of the church, creating divides between empires and leaders. As well as this, Holbein is hinting at themes of death and human impermanence through the objects painted- as they represent the temporary joys of wealth experienced by humans; fleeting pleasures that will be swallowed by death, and one day mean nothing. Almost all of the symbolism is hidden within the objects on the shelves. Holbein intended for the lower shelf to represent earthly matters and mortality, whilst the top shelf represents heavenly belongings and a transcendent element.
On the lower shelf, the objects are indicative of the problem of the reformation. A book is opened, clearly exhibiting a hymn by Martin Luther, and beside it is a Lute, with a single broken string- representing the discord in the church at the time. As well as this, there is a territorial globe set on it’s side- displaying the territories of Europe, where the reformation was taking place. As well as this, in front of the globe is an arithmetic book, which has been opened on a page about division- and beside it a set of dividers are featured. These objects and symbols are quite obviously representing the idea of the divides in the church at the time. All of the objects on the lower shelf are exposing themes of an earthly matter. In direct comparison, the top shelf features symbols to do with the heavens, and life above earth- yet still filled with the same symbolism. On the shelf are various astronomy instruments- representing the heavens above earth. There is also a celestial globe-opposite to the terrestrial one on the bottom shelf- and it’s coordinates have been set on Rome. This symbolises the idea that Rome is still the centre of religion, and is a reference to the reformation. What Holbein did by separating the contents an meaning of each shelf, was create a theme in the work of life and death. However, this strong theme is largely hidden in other parts of the work.
Death and mortality in the work come in very subtle ways. On the book that Georges de Selve has his arm resting on, is his age in Latin. Similarly, Jean de Dinteville’s age is encrypted on his dagger. The placement of the men’s age is representing life and living, and the idea of death drawing closer as they age. It is also an idea that is in contrast to the initial atmosphere of wealth and power- as we slowly see the wealth and power in the men become such a trivial issue, as it is impermanent. As well as this, the hidden crucifix in the corner represents salvation and life after death- the crucifix is hidden to show how death is unseen, and the men are oblivious to it due to their fortune. But, probably most importantly, the object in the middle. This distorted shape is really a skull- when viewed at from the far right corner. Holbein has painted this anamorphic skull in such a way that it is unidentifiable from front on, and you have to change your perspective to see it. The skull represents death, and the way that Holbein has composed it is truly genius, and further indicates ideas of death. It is right in the front of the painting, stretching out and covering some of the shelves. It is right there, yet nobody can identify it. Nobody knows what it is- because we are focusing on the wealthy men, and are in awe of their beauty and power. But once we change our perspective, we can recognise it. Much like death- people are blind to the fact that life is fleeting, and pleasures and wealth are temporary. We do not see death, because we are obsessed with momentary pleasures and greed. We need to change our perspectives away from wealth (the painting) and recognise that death is around us, and there are human limitations. It is quite a morbid theme. The skull is a reminder of death and fleeting life- in contrast with the paintings scenes of life and knowledge. The skull represents the idea that human mortality obscures a direct vision of god and death.
‘The ambassadors’ is perhaps one of the most complex, sophisticated and genius masterpieces of the art world. It is a historical recount of the reformation era, a portrait of two wealthy men in all their glory, yet it is a reminder that death is everywhere, yet humans are blind to it because of our mortality. Hans Holbein in this painting has given the audience so much to evaluate it is overwhelming- and at the same time, exciting and beautiful.