Question

Describe the approach to portrait painting used by Hans Holbein and Quentin massys.

Answer 1

Answer:

His art was appreciated from the beginning of his career. The French poet and reformer Nicolas Bourbon detected "the Apeles of our time", a typical compliment of the time. Holbein has also been described as a great "off the charts" of art history, since he founded no school. After his death, he lost part of his work, but began to be collected, and in the 19th century, Holbein was recognized among the great master portraitists. Recent exhibitions have specifically underlined its versatility. He dedicated his fluid line to all kinds of designs, from complicated jewelry to monumental frescoes. Holbein's art has sometimes been called realistic, since he drew and painted with exceptional precision. His portraits were famous in his time for the similarity he achieved; and now they "see" great figures of the time, such as Erasmus or Moor, through Holbein's eyes. Holbein was never satisfied, however, with the external appearance. He embedded layers of symbolism, allusions and paradoxes in his art, producing the endless fascination of scholars. Art historian Ellis Waterhouse believes that his portrait “remains unsurpassed by security and media economy, insight into the character and a combination of wealth and purity of style

Answer 2

Both artists approached painting portraits with an economy of design. They also used a mastery of depth while still keeping the portraits simple.