Decoding The Ambassadors

This talk sets Holbein’s great and very popular painting in its artistic, social, economic, religious and political context, focusing on the circumstances of the Spring and Summer of 1533 when it was actually painted. This precisely coincided with Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and with the crunch point of Henry’s break from the Church of Rome. This immensely detailed painting makes frequent reference to the circumstances surrounding its creation as well as being the most amazing ‘selfie’ ever produced.