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Holbein: The Ambassadors (One Painting, One Story)

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Brief Description
Holbein's Ambassadors is one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery. It is also one of the most intriguing. Laden with hidden symbols and mysteries, the work has been the subject of intense debate among historians during the five centuries since it was created.... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Introducing a masterpiece from the National Gallery’s collection, this compact and beautifully illustrated book explores the story behind Holbein’s Ambassadors.

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Holbein's Ambassadors is one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery. It is also one of the most intriguing. Laden with hidden symbols and mysteries, the work has been the subject of intense debate among historians during the five centuries since it was created.

Here, Tracy Borman unpicks the secrets of this enigmatic artwork, painted during a turbulent time in English history as Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in order to marry the young Anne Boleyn. From Holbein's experiences as a German-Swiss Γ©migrΓ© who rose to a position as the 'King's Painter', to the two French ambassadors' troubles at court, this book illuminates the fascinating story behind a masterpiece of the Tudor era.

Series: One Painting, One Story

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  • Holbein: The Ambassadors (One Painting, One Story)
    Holbein's Ambassadors is one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery. It is also one of the most intriguing. Laden with hidden symbols and mysteries, the work has been the subject of intense debate among historians during the five centuries since it was created. Here, Tracy Borman unpicks the secrets of this enigmatic artwork, painted during a turbulent...
    Paperback
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    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Monet: The Water-Lily Pond (One Painting, One Story)
    In 1893, Claude Monet, a keen gardener, bought a plot of land next to his house in Giverny, where he wanted to create a water garden 'both for the pleasure of the eye and for the purpose of having subjects to paint'. He filled the pond with water lilies and built a bridge at one end, inspired by examples he...
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781857097313

Publisher: National Gallery Company Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 March 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: National Gallery Company Ltd

Illustration: 30 color Illust

Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 159.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 64

About the Author

Tracy BormanΒ OBEΒ is joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust.Β SheΒ isΒ a regular broadcasterΒ andΒ the author of a number of highly acclaimed books, both fiction and non-fiction.

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