Hermann von Wedigh III (died 1560)

Hermann von Wedigh III (died 1560) is an arresting portrait created by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1532. Executed in the challenging medium of oil and gold on an oak panel, this work showcases the meticulous detail, precise draftsmanship, and psychological insight characteristic of the great Northern Renaissance master. Holbein painted this work during his critical second period in England, where he was closely associated with influential German merchants of the Hanseatic League residing in London, providing a critical insight into the era's transatlantic commerce and portrait conventions.

The subject, Hermann von Wedigh III, was a merchant from Cologne whose portrait reflects the sitter’s high status and austere professionalism. Holbein presents the man against a vibrant turquoise background, utilizing the gold leaf not merely for decoration but to heighten the dimensionality of the inscription above the sitter’s shoulder. The composition focuses intensely on the man’s features and rich, dark attire, demonstrating Younger's ability to render textures and materials with near-photographic accuracy. In keeping with established Renaissance tradition, the panel incorporates textual elements, featuring a precise inscription in Latin that formally identifies the sitter and provides his age at the time of the painting. This element transforms the representation of one of the era's successful men into a formal historical record.

The skillful application of paint and the innovative use of the oak support underscore Holbein's technical brilliance in the portrait genre. This pivotal piece of sixteenth-century painting is now held in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. As the work remains a subject of continued scholarship and public fascination, high-quality prints and archival images are widely accessible through numerous public domain collections, ensuring its enduring influence on the study of European art history.