The Portrait of John Poyntz by Hans Holbein the Younger is a significant surviving example of the artist's draftsmanship from the period 1500-1543. Holbein, renowned for his detailed portraits of the English court under Henry VIII, executed this preliminary work using a demanding mixed media technique essential to his preparatory studies. This drawing provides valuable insight into the visual culture and artistic process of the early Tudor era.
The composition is rendered primarily in black and red chalk, augmented by the sophisticated technique of stumping to achieve subtle gradations of tone and shadow, particularly around the face. Further definition and depth are provided by the application of brush and brown wash combined with black ink, lending volumetric substance to the man’s features. Younger typically used such precise life drawings as foundational studies, often transferring these compositions to panel for the final painted portrait. The meticulous rendering of John Poyntz’s face captures his direct gaze and inherent character, characteristic of the powerful portraits of men commissioned during this period.
Classified specifically as a drawing, this piece represents Holbein’s foundational skill and is an important component of his surviving oeuvre. The work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Given its age and cultural importance, the image frequently enters the public domain, allowing institutions and enthusiasts globally to access high-quality prints for study and exhibition purposes.
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