• Photo 1
  • Photo 2
  • Photo 3
  • Photo 4
  • Photo 5

Sir Thomas More

Hans, The Younger Holbein

Item Number: 29753

$

Sir Thomas More (1527) by Hans Holbein the Younger is a wonderful work of political observation and personal insight. This portrait, painted during Holbein's stay in England, depicts Sir Thomas More, ...

Full Description
Choose your size
Size Guide
Choose your framing option
Choose Guide
  • ✈️ Free Worldwide Shipping & Production Times
    Open

    Total Estimated Delivery: 24–46 Business Days

    Since this is a 100% hand-painted artwork made to order, delivery takes a bit longer than mass-produced prints. Here is the exact breakdown:

    • Processing (14–21 Business Days): Our artists craft and hand-paint your piece. High-quality oil paintings require time for layers to dry properly to ensure they arrive in perfect condition.
    • Shipping Transit: Once your painting passes quality control, it is handed over to our reliable shipping partners.
      • USA, Canada & Europe: 10–20 business days
      • Australia & Rest of World: 15–25 business days

    Customs Note: International orders may be subject to import duties/taxes, which are the buyer's responsibility.

  • 🛡️ 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee & Returns
    Open

    We want your purchase experience to be as easy as possible! You have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.

    • Standard Artworks: Eligible for return within 30 days (must be new, unused, and in original packaging). For "change of mind" returns, the buyer covers return shipping costs. We do not charge any restocking fees.
    • Damaged or Defective Items: If your art arrives damaged, contact us immediately. We will offer a free replacement or a full refund and cover any return shipping costs.
    • Custom & Personalized Orders: Due to their unique nature, portraits and custom-modified artworks are final sale and cannot be returned unless they arrive damaged.
    • Cancellations: You may cancel your order for free within 24 hours of purchase.

    To start a return, simply contact us at info@tryartwork.com.

  • 🎨 100% Hand-Painted Oil Art
    Open

    This is NOT a print. You are purchasing a genuine, hand-painted oil reproduction created by a skilled artist.

    We use museum-quality canvas and rich oil paints to capture the texture, depth, and soul of the original masterpiece. Every brushstroke is applied by hand, making your artwork truly unique.

Our benefits
  • 100% Hand-Painted Oil
    100% Hand-Painted Oil
  • Free Worldwide Shipping
    Free Worldwide Shipping
  • Museum-Quality Standards
    Museum-Quality Standards
Features “Sir Thomas More” by Hans, The Younger Holbein
Overview
Author
Hans, The Younger Holbein
Color
Black, Red, Green, Gold, White, Brown
Tags
Portrait, Historical Figure, Noble, Solemn
Painting Details
Alternate Titles
Portrait Of Sir Thomas More
Art Movement
Renaissance
Historical Events
Tudor Reformation
Visual and Stylistic Elements
Brushwork/Texture
Fine And Precise
Focal Point
Sir Thomas More
Light Source
Controlled Studio Lighting
Objects
Man , Hats , Fur Coat , Chain , Medallion , Green Drapery , Table
Orientation
Vertical
Perspective
Symmetrical Perspective
Original Masterpiece Features
Creation Process
Oil On Panel
Inscriptions/Signatures
Signed By Holbein
Provenance
National Portrait Gallery, London
Influences and Related Works
Influences
Tudor Portraiture
Related Works
Erasmus Of Rotterdam
Exhibition and Market Information
Criticism & Reception
One Of Holbein’s Most Famous Portraits
Cultural Significance
Represents The Political Complexity Of The Tudor Era
Current Owner
National Portrait Gallery, London
Exhibition History
National Portrait Gallery, London
Public Domain Status
Public Domain
Did you see an error in the description or specifications? Let us know about it!
Report an error
Description “Sir Thomas More” by Hans, The Younger Holbein

Sir Thomas More (1527) by Hans Holbein the Younger is a wonderful work of political observation and personal insight. This portrait, painted during Holbein's stay in England, depicts Sir Thomas More, a distinguished scholar, writer, and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII. The painting demonstrates Holbein's unrivalled ability to convey both his subjects' public and private personalities.

More is seen wearing lavish, pricey clothing that is suitable for his position of power, but Holbein's attention to detail goes beyond mere style. Although his fur-lined robes, velvet textures, and the shine of a gold chain reflect his wealth and power, his solemn countenance and penetrating stare also convey the weight of responsibility and moral conviction. Holbein's genius lies in his ability to balance the two, portraying More as a powerful statesman and a man of immense wisdom and humanity.

The background is loaded with symbolism despite its simplicity. The muted, dark hues draw attention to More's face, while his hands, resting on an unidentifiable surface, offer stability and strength. Holbein's use of light gives his paintings character and depth, creating a realistic look that captivates the viewer right away. Because it depicts not just More's likeness but also the turbulent political and theological atmosphere of the day, this image functions as both a historical document and a piece of art.

A classic of Renaissance portraiture, Holbein's Sir Thomas More is praised for its psychological nuance and painstaking artistry. It goes beyond the genre and provides insight into the intricate relationship between political power and individual virtue in Tudor England.

Studios continue to paint this work as classic art reproductions for galleries and private rooms.

Collector's Guide PDF “Sir Thomas More” by Hans, The Younger Holbein
Reviews “Sir Thomas More” by Hans, The Younger Holbein
Add your review
Q/A “Sir Thomas More” by Hans, The Younger Holbein
Experts answer questions
Add your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
  • What does Hans Holbein the Younger depict in his portrait of Sir Thomas More?
    Open Answer

    Holbein depicts Sir Thomas More — the humanist scholar, lawyer, statesman, and Lord Chancellor of England under Henry VIII — in a three-quarter portrait that presents the sitter with extraordinary precision of character: intelligent, composed, subtly humorous, and possessed of the quiet authority of a man who has thought deeply about the world and his place in it. More's chain of office and his fur-trimmed robe signal his rank; his expression signals a mind entirely his own.

  • What technical qualities define Holbein's portrait style?
    Open Answer

    Holbein is the supreme master of the English Renaissance portrait, combining a Flemish precision of detail — the texture of fur, the gleam of gold chain, the specific character of a face — with a compositional clarity and psychological penetration that makes his likenesses feel less like paintings than encounters with actual persons. His handling of the face in the More portrait is particularly extraordinary: the modeling of the features, the quality of the skin, and the precise rendering of the eyes give the sitter a presence that has not diminished in five centuries.

  • What is the historical significance of Sir Thomas More as a subject?
    Open Answer

    Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) was one of the leading intellectual figures of the Northern Renaissance — a close friend of Erasmus, the author of Utopia, and a man celebrated across Europe for his learning, his wit, and his integrity. His refusal to accept Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy over the Church of England led to his execution in 1535 and his eventual canonization as a Catholic martyr. Holbein painted his portrait in 1527, eight years before More's death, during the period of their close collaboration at the English court.

  • What atmosphere does a print of this Holbein portrait create in a home?
    Open Answer

    The painting's extraordinary psychological depth, its quality of Renaissance intellectual seriousness, and its historical importance as a likeness of one of the most admired and tragic figures of English history create a quietly commanding and intellectually resonant presence in any interior. It suits a study, library, or living room where its combination of artistic mastery and historical weight can be appreciated. For admirers of Renaissance portraiture, English history, and the tradition of painting as an encounter with a specific human mind, it is an incomparable choice.

Additional Information “Sir Thomas More” by Hans, The Younger Holbein

“Holbein painted the soul of a martyr.” John Rowlands

“More's face shows the cost of conscience.” Roy Strong

“The Lord Chancellor wears his fate.” Susan Foister

“Holbein gave Tudor England its mirror.” David Starkey

“Integrity looks out from this face.” Joanna Woodall

#1. Humanist Saint. Thomas More was executed for refusing to accept Henry VIII as head of the Church.

#2. Holbein's England. Holbein became the leading portrait painter in Tudor England.

#3. Chain of Office. More wears the chain of his office as Lord Chancellor.

#4. Psychological Portrait. Holbein captures More's intelligence and integrity.

#5. Historical Document. The portrait preserves the appearance of a man who chose death over compromise.

A vertical portrait like this fits a gallery wall, reading corner, or a hallway. Give it surrounding space — clutter near the frame competes with the painted surface. The work pairs well with pale plaster walls, aged oak, and a gallery-style feel. A portrait of this kind carries the room without competing visual elements crowding it. Its presence settles a room without overwhelming it.

A painter handling this work focuses first on the fine and precise brushwork, then on the texture of fabric folds. Brush size changes with the area: wide brushes for ground and sky, fine ones for figures and accents. For portraits, getting the eyes and mouth right is more important than any other detail. The piece is built up by hand in oil paint on canvas to honor the original handling.

Pose and lighting carry the picture, focused on Sir Thomas More. Across the picture the eye picks up man, hats, fur coat, chain, and medallion, none overstated. Black, red, green, and gold dominate the surface, and the painting reads with a clear chromatic identity. Light is handled with restraint, modeling rather than dramatizing the forms. The painting carries cleanly across a room and holds its character on a closer look. The surface carries a controlled finish, with small shifts in handling across the picture.

Related Searches