Who was Susanna Horenbout?

Susanna Horenbout (later anglicized to Susannah Hornebolt) was the daughter of Flemish artist, Gerard Hornebolt, and sister of Lucas Horenbout (Court Miniaturist of King Henry VIII of England from September 1525 to his death in 1544). She learned to paint with her father. She gained recognition in Antwerp in 1521 when Albrecht Dürer bought her illumination, The Savior. Dürer marveled “that a woman should be able to do such work.”And she was only 18 years old at the time!

The Horenbout family came to England in the early to mid 1520s (most likely 1522). Previously, Gerard Horenbout had worked for Archduchess Margaret of Austria (Regent of the Netherlands). The family then relocated to England to work at Henry VIII's court. 

She worked as a manuscript illuminator and painter of miniatures. Susanna also served as a gentlewoman in the households of at least four of Henry VIII’s six wives: Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr.

Around 1525-1526, Susanna married John Parker, a courtier in the court of Henry VIII, who was Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and Yeoman of the King's Crossbows, and later Yeoman of the King's Robes. Parker died in September 1537

On September 22, 1539 at St. Margaret's Church in Westminster, she married John Gilman, who was to become, Serjeant of the King's Woodyard.

In 1540, Susanna became a member of Queen Anne of Cleves's privy chamber and was responsible for four servants. The queen considered her the "first of her gentlewomen."

Also around 1540, Susanna and her husband had their first child, a son named Henry Gilman (1540-1593). King Henry VIII was their son's godfather. 

Susanna and Gilman had two sons and at least two daughters during the course of their marriage.

Her time of death is not completely known, except that she was deceased by 1554 when Gilman married for a third time. 

In 1567, Italian writer Lodovico Guicciardini praised Susanna as “an excellent painter, especially in making of very small works [miniatures] beyond all belief; and most excellent in illuminating [manuscripts] so that the great King Henry VIII brought her to England with great gifts and provisions.” 

She was also mentioned by Giorgio Vasari in his masterwork, Lives of the Artists. He included her among a small list of women "who have been excellent miniaturists."

 

Susanna Horenbout, Mary Tudor, c. 1546, Compton Verney Gallery, UK

Notice the blackwork embroidery on the inside of the partlet that Mary Tudor is wearing in the miniature portrait?

 

 

         Works Cited:

- "Susanna Horenbout: Forgotten Female Artist at the Tudor Court." Daily Art Magazine. https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/susanna-horenbout/.

- "The Lost Works of Susanna Horenbout." Art Her Story. https://artherstory.net/the-lost-works-of-susanna-horenbout-female-artist-at-the-tudor-court/. 

- "Susannah Hornebolt." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susannah_Hornebolt. 

- "Susannah Hornebolt, Artist at the Tudor Court." https://www.monstrousregimentofwomen.com/2021/01/susannah-hornebolt-artist-at-tudor-court.html. 

 

Another Miniature Painting with Blackwork Embroidery in it Painted by Hans Holbein the Younger?

When working on an unrelated project, I ended up finding myself looking at another potential Holbein miniature with the Royal Collection Trust. 

 

 

 

When enhancing this photograph, there is obviously blackwork embroidery on the man's collar. This portrait does look like it's been inspired by Holbein. As the RCT states, "The art of miniature painting was still in its infancy during the first quarter of the sixteenth century." Perhaps this miniature was painted in Hans Holbein the Younger's workshop? Maybe it was painted by Lucas Horenbout or Susanna Horenbout, or another artist?

 

According to the RCT, "The locket in which the miniature was originally framed bears an inscription identifying the sitter as Guildford and the artist as Hans Holbein the Younger... Examination of the technique used suggests that the miniature may be a contemporary work of c. 1530–5, although by a less skilful hand than Holbein’s." Guildford is in reference to "Sir Henry Guildford (1489–1532), Comptroller of the Royal Household to Henry VIII, was incorrect, but unsurprising. Guildford is shown at the age of 38 in a portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger dated 1527 in the Royal Collection (RCIN 400046) and cannot therefore be the much younger man represented in this near-contemporary miniature, despite the superficial resemblance between the two figures, and the similar, assertive pose deployed in both images." 

 

 

Above is the portrait of Sir Henry Guildford, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1527. The man in the above miniature looks too young, especially for being painted circa 1530-1535, compared to this other portrait of Guildford. So, most likely not the same man and therefore incorrect, as quoted by the RCT above. Guildford was married twice, but did not have any children.

 

Regardless of who the sitter was, I am fascinated by the blackwork embroidery present! 

 

 

This is my interpretation of the embroidery pattern found in columns along the collar in the sitter's miniature portrait. 

 

 

 

 

Historic Slate Frames & How to Dress these Embroidery Frames

A slate frame is a historic type of embroidery frame that has been around for centuries. This specific type of embroidery frame keeps the tension on the fabric even without warping the fabric, like a modern hoop frame would. A slate frame is typically made from wood. It has two horizontal bars and two vertical bars (also known as stretcher bars). The stretcher bars have holes with pegs or notches to hold the horizontal bars in position, to keep the fabric taut. 

 

 

      Check out my embroidery books! 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd Edition of Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns). https://amzn.to/43lwjRp

​ - Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns (1st Edition). https://amzn.to/4cnysi5

​ - Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books. https://amzn.to/43VMwwI​

 

 

Drafting the Holbein Stitch Pattern from Jane Seymour's Cuffs | Blackwork Embroidery

Step by step of how I draft early 16th century blackwork embroidery, aka Holbein stitch or double-running stitch, patterns from the portrait of Jane Seymour (3rd wife of Henry VIII of England) painted by Hans Holbein the Younger.

 

Hans Holbein the Younger was a European painter, just like his older brother Ambrosius and his father, Hans the Elder. If you hear the term 'Holbein stitch', it is in reference to Hans the Younger. From his friendship with Erasmus, he had a letter of introduction and found himself in England to eventually become a court painter in the court of King Henry VIII of England. Compared to other artists at the time, Holbein painted numerous portraits with blackwork embroidery in them. 

 

             Check out my embroidery books! 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd Edition of Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns). https://amzn.to/43lwjRp 

- Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns (1st Edition). https://amzn.to/4cnysi5 

- Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books. https://amzn.to/43VMwwI

 

 

 

Blackwork Embroidery Found in Hans Holbein the Younger's Portraits

Hans Holbein the Younger was a German painter in the 16th century and became a court painter for King Henry VIII of England. Many of his paintings included blackwork embroidery.

 

  Check out my embroidery books! 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd Edition of Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns). https://amzn.to/43lwjRp

​ - Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns (1st Edition). https://amzn.to/4cnysi5

​ - Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books. https://amzn.to/43VMwwI​

 

 

 

Different Types of Blackwork Embroidery in 16th Century England

Blackwork embroidery, also known as Holbein Stitch or double-running stitch, started out as a geometric counted stitch in 16th century England and ended the century as a swirly floral embroidery through pouncing.

 

  Check out my embroidery books! 

- 16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd Edition of Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns). https://amzn.to/43lwjRp​ 

- Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns (1st Edition). https://amzn.to/4cnysi5​ 

- Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books. https://amzn.to/43VMwwI​

 

 

Order My Embroidery Books Today Before the Price Goes Up!

Starting on June 10, 2025, Amazon will be increasing their prices to print books, which will therefore unfortunately cause the price of my books to go up. 

 

 

Order these books today before the price increases!

16th to 18th Century Double-Running Stitch Embroidery Patterns (2nd edition): https://amzn.to/4miYBTy

Pre-18th Century Embroidery Patterns (1st edition): https://amzn.to/4dFFcIN

Patterns from 16th Century Pattern Books: https://amzn.to/4jW6sVr