Hans Holbein the Younger

Hans Holbein the Younger is a German Northern Renaissance painter and draftsman, official portraitist at the court of Henry VIII of England and one of the greatest masters of realistic portraiture. His work is distinguished by photographic precision, acute psychological observation, and exceptional technical mastery that captures the essence of his subjects - ambassadors, merchants, nobles, and the king himself - with almost scientific objectivity. His compositions, notably "The Ambassadors" with its famous anamorphosis, combine technical virtuosity, sophisticated symbolism, and Renaissance humanism.