Holbein

Delving into the turbulent world that shaped one of the Renaissance’s most pivotal families, this study traces the Holbeins from their Augsburg roots through the bustling streets of Basel and Lucerne. It paints a vivid picture of the era’s religious, scientific, and artistic upheavals—printing’s birth, the influx of Greek scholarship, and the dawning of a new visual language—while grounding the narrative in the personal trials of Hans Holbein the Elder and his kin.

The author weaves together meticulous research on early Christian art, monastic ideals, and the evolving tastes of patrons such as Basel’s burgomasters. Readers will discover how the younger Holbein’s first oil paintings and woodcuts reflect a blend of Italian influence, local tradition, and the emerging humanist spirit. By the end of the opening act, the book offers a compelling portrait of a transitional epoch, inviting listeners to appreciate the forces that forged a new artistic vision before the Reformation’s full roar.