How to Draft Blackwork Embroidery Patterns from Holbein's Portraits & Apply to Costuming

Step by step of how I draft early 16th century blackwork embroidery, aka Holbein stitch or double-running stitch, patterns from portraits 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

      Works Cited: 

- Holbein, Hans. “Mrs Jane Small, formerly Mrs Pemberton.” V&A Museum. 

- Holbein, Hans. “Self-Portrait.” Uffizi Gallery. 

- Holbein d. J., Hans. “Jane Seymour.” Kunst Historisches Museum Wien. 

- Holbein d. J., Hans. “Portrait of Anna Meyer.” KunstMuseum Basel. 

- Holbein d. J., Hans. “Portrait of a Noble Boy with a Marmoset.” KunstMuseum Basel. 

- Holbein, Hans the Younger. “Double Portrait of Sir Thomas Godsalve and His Son John.” Web Gallery of Art. 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Darmstadt Madonna.” 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Elizabeth, Lady Audley.” Royal Collection Trust. 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Margaret Roper (Margaret More).” The Met Museum. 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Anne Cresacre.” Royal Collection Trust. 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Portrait of Robert Cheseman.” Mauritshuis. 

- D’Angelo, Isabella. “Blackwork.” 

- Cariad. “Darmstadt Madonna.” 

- Holbein d. J., Hans. “The Family of Thomas More.” KunstMuseum Basel.