One of the masterpieces of Hans Holbein the Younger – a portrait of Jane Seymour, Queen of England and the third wife of the English King Henry VIII belongs to the collection of the Museum of Art History in Vienna.
Expanded in three quarters, this portrait is built on a strict balance of forms. The artist accentuates the silhouette of the figure of Jane Seymour, singling it out against a dark background. Expanding at the bottom of the sleeves of a gorgeous dress with its weight give the figure stability, a small-sized portrait seems monumental.
Hans Holbein pays special attention to the decorative side of painting. The queen costume is magnificent. The richness of the texture of expensive fabrics is supplemented by the plastic rhythms of the picture.
This is the shimmering silk, and the wavy lines of the exquisite cuffs, and the rich, amazing, in truth royal dress color, the sound of which is enhanced by noble stones and shimmering pearls, and the bizarre outlines of the headdress.
Rounded shoulders, smooth lines of the neck emphasize the calm harmony of the portrait. Although the picturesque language of the picture is somewhat dryish, the rhythm of the lines, the generalized silhouette and the beauty of the reserved, deep color, combined with the monumental character of the figure create an amazing harmony of the queen’s image – majestic and graceful.
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