Artwork
Erasmus of Rotterdam
Erasmus of Rotterdam is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, the work's primary iconographic function is to represent the specific likeness and identity of its sitter, who serves as the sole main subject.
This 1532 oil painting on lime panel depicts Erasmus of Rotterdam, the renowned Dutch humanist scholar. As a portrait, the work's primary iconographic function is to represent the specific likeness and identity of its sitter, who serves as the sole main subject. The image captures Erasmus in a manner consistent with his status as a leading intellectual figure of the Northern Renaissance, though the provided records focus on his identification rather than detailing specific symbolic attributes or objects within the composition.
The work stands as a visual record of the scholar, preserved today within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Erasmus of Rotterdam is executed in oil paint on a lime panel support, a technique typical of Holbein’s workshop practice. The work is classified as a painting and belongs to the portrait genre, presenting the sitter in a half‑length format against a neutral background. The painting measures 17.6 cm in height and 14 cm in width.
The panel’s smooth surface allows for fine brushwork and subtle modeling of flesh tones, characteristics evident in the rendering of Erasmus’s facial features and attire.
History & Provenance
Hans Holbein the Younger created the oil-on-lime-panel portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1532. The work depicts the scholar and is classified as a portrait. Regarding its ownership history, the painting was formerly held by Robert Lehman before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The 1532 portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Hans Holbein the Younger is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, executed in oil on a lime panel, measures 17.6 cm by 14 cm. It entered the museum's holdings as part of the Robert Lehman Collection.
The provided sources confirm the painting's current location and its association with the Lehman bequest but do not contain specific inventory accession numbers or a record of its exhibition history.
Overview
Hans Holbein the Younger, a German-Swiss artist renowned for his portraiture, completed Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1532. This oil painting depicts the Dutch humanist scholar Erasmus, capturing his serious and contemplative demeanor. The work exemplifies Holbein's skill as a leading portraitist of the 16th century and is a significant example of Northern Renaissance art. It is currently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Holbein the Younger (UK: HOL-byne, US: HOHL-byne, HAWL-; German: Hans Holbein der Jüngere; c.
