Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?)

The Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?), dated 1535, is executed in oil paint on an oak panel support. This work, attributed to the Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, presents a portrait of a man with square dimensions of 30.5 cm by 30.5 cm. The medium and support are characteristic of Northern Renaissance portraiture of the period, utilizing the durability of oak for the panel and the rich tonal range of oil paint. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having previously been owned by Jules Bache.

Its formal qualities align with the workshop's style, focusing on the depiction of a male subject within a compact, square format typical of intimate portraiture from the mid-1530s.

The portrait, titled Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?), was executed in oil on oak panel around 1535 by the workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger. Its creation is documented in contemporary records and technical analysis, which place the work in the mid‑16th century. The painting entered the collection of collector Jules Bache, who later bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on public view.

The attribution to the Holbein workshop, the subject’s identification as Ralph Sadler, and the material specifications are recorded in museum catalogues and scholarly references.

The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. It is inventoried as part of the Jules Bache Collection, accessioned under the museum’s holdings. The work has not been recorded in major public exhibitions in available sources.

The Portrait of a Man, dated 1535, is attributed to the Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, situating it within the significant circle of the German master who dominated English court portraiture during the reign of Henry VIII. Held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the work exemplifies the workshop's contribution to the period's artistic output, characterized by oil paint on oak panel. While the sitter is identified as Ralph Sadler, the attribution to the workshop rather than Holbein himself reflects ongoing scholarly distinctions regarding the master's direct hand versus his studio's production.

This piece serves as a key example of mid-16th-century portraiture, demonstrating the technical and stylistic conventions propagated by Holbein's circle in England.

This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?), presents a detailed depiction of a male figure. The subject, potentially Sir Ralph Sadler, is shown in attire characteristic of the 16th century, suggesting the period of its creation. The artist employed oil paint to achieve a realistic likeness, capturing specific features and textures with precision against a plain background.