Class details
Join us for an informative and engaging pair of talks on Hans Holbein: Renaissance Master.
Part 1
In the first illustrated talk, Dr Elizabeth Goldring FSA FRHistS (Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick) introduces Holbein: Renaissance Master, her critically-acclaimed biography of Hans Holbein.
He was the artist who fixed the appearances of Henry VIII, his wives, would-be wives, and leading courtiers in the eyes of contemporaries and posterity. The German-born Holbein brought Continental techniques and practices to Henry VIII’s England. He applied them in new contexts, for new patrons, and transformed the Tudors’ relationship to painting. He opened their eyes to the political power of portraiture.
The biography was published to mark the 500th anniversary of Holbein’s arrival in England. Critics have hailed it as ‘superb’ (Apollo), ‘definitive’ (The Spectator), ‘magnificent’ (The Times), and ‘authoritative’ (The Daily Telegraph). You can buy a copy of the book online from Yale Books https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9781913107505/holbein/
Date: Thursday 16 July
Times: 11am – 12.30pm
About Dr Elizabeth Goldring
Elizabeth Goldring (MA, MPhil, PhD Yale) is an Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Member of the Consultative Committee of the Burlington Magazine, and a Member of the Athenaeum’s Works of Art Committee. An expert on Tudor art and court culture, her books include Nicholas Hilliard: Life of an Artist (2019) and the just-published Holbein: Renaissance Master (2025). She regularly contributes book and exhibition reviews to The Spectator, Literary Review, Times Literary Supplement, and London Review of Books, among other publications. Professor Goldring has been interviewed about her research on the Tudors on Radio 4’s ‘Today Programme’ and ‘Start the Week’, as well as on numerous fact-based television programmes, including Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1), Stories from the National Portrait Gallery (Sky Arts), and Lucy Worsley’s Fireworks for a Tudor Queen (BBC4).
Part 2
Join us for the second talk in our exclusive two part exploration into Holbein: Renaissance Master. Tom Caley ACR (ICON) FABCR talks about Holbein’s extraordinary drawing. He makes particular reference to the painting “The Ambassadors” which hangs in the National Gallery in London. Tom draws our attention to the remarkable way in which Holbein might have mapped the very precise rendering of the Cosmati Pavement in this painting.
This talk presents the point of view of an artist rather than that of an historian. To begin Tom explores Holbein’s outstanding drawing methods using the portrait drawings in the Royal Library at Windsor. He goes on to consider the possible means of projecting the complex design of the Cosmati pavement in formal perspective.
Date: Thursday 23 July
Time: 11am – 12.30pm
About Tom Caley
Tom Caley trained in conservation at the National Maritime Museum after graduating from art school. During his forty-five year career as a conservator he continued to practise as an artist. Two years ago he returned to study at the Royal College of Art. His art practice centres around over fifty years’ study of observational drawing and painting.
Working as a conservator of paintings gave Tom opportunities to study how great artists of the past achieved their marvellous results. He has used this insight to deepen his understanding of drawing and painting.
Cost
Both Talks : £20
One Talk : £12
Dates
Part 1 with Dr Elizabeth Goldring : Thursday 16 July
Part 2 with Tom Caley : Thursday 23 July
Times
11am – 12.30pm