Portrait of a Nobleman with a hawk

The Portrait of a Nobleman with a hawk was executed by Hans Holbein the Younger (Augsburg 1497/1498 - 1543 London) in 1542. This late-career work, completed just a year before the artist's death, is an oil painting on a wooden panel, characteristic of Renaissance portraiture intended for private display. The subject, an unidentified nobleman, is rendered with meticulous detail against a flat, neutral green background, typical of Younger’s mature style, which focuses intensely on the sitter’s character and status.

Younger’s exceptional ability to capture textures is evident in the man’s fine fur trim, rich velvet doublet, and the subtle sheen of his cap. The composition emphasizes the sitter's wealth and noble occupation. His left hand firmly grips a leather glove, while the right arm supports the titular hawk, a symbol traditionally associated with aristocratic status, hunting, and authority. The hawk’s presence connects the subject directly to the privileged pastime of falconry, elevating the political and social statement of the piece. The intense gaze of the sitter confronts the viewer directly, projecting confidence and command.

As the official court painter to Henry VIII, Younger was highly sought after for commissions that defined the imagery of the Tudor elite. This painting serves as an essential example of the northern Renaissance style brought to England. This important work is currently housed in the collection of the Mauritshuis, where it is valued for its remarkable state of preservation. Although protected within the museum’s holdings, the fame of this masterpiece means that high-quality prints and reproductions derived from public domain photographic archives allow art enthusiasts worldwide to study the exacting standards of Younger’s late output.