2 Blackwork Embroidery Patterns from Holbein's Portrait of Jane Seymour

Hans Holbein the Younger drew a sketch of Jane Seymour, 3rd wife of King Henry VIII of England, in 1536. From this sketch, Holbein painted a portrait of Jane, circa 1536-1537, which is at the Kunst Historisches Museum in Vienna, Austria. This same sketch was used to paint Jane into the Whitehall Mural as well as for another portrait of her that was painted in 1540. From the same sketch came two portraits of Jane Seymour, with two different blackwork embroidery patterns. 

 Hans Holbein the Younger was a 16th century 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 d. J., Hans. “Jane Seymour.” Kunst Historisches Museum Wien. https://www.khm.at/en/objectdb/detail/966/. 

- Holbein the Younger, Hans. “Queen Jane Seymour.” Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/1/collection/912267/queen-jane-seymour-15089-1537. 

- Studio of Hans Holbein the Younger. “Portrait of Jane Seymour.” Mauritshuis. https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/278-portrait-of-jane-seymour-1509-1537/. 

- Van Leemput, Remigius. “Copy of the Whitehall Mural.” Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/trails/royal-portraiture/copy-of-the-whitehall-mural.