Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark'

Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark' | The National Gallery

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5 жыл бұрын

Learn how Hans Holbein the Younger's portrait of the 16-year-old widow Christina of Denmark piqued Henry VIII's interest when he was looking for a new bride and the surprising story of how the work came into our collection with Susan Foister, our Deputy Director.
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Пікірлер: 209

@judithwilliams3835 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for an excellent lecture. We are so privileged to have these learned staff at The National Gallery who give their time in this way.

@nationalgallery 2 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome Judith, so pleased you enjoyed this.

@elizabethfox4761 Жыл бұрын

Holbein's paintings have always fascinated me. So lifelike. It's like you are looking at a photograph. I love these lectures.

@Eris123451 3 жыл бұрын

"He had an heir but he needed a spare," priceless and too accurate by far.

@rickh3714 3 жыл бұрын

C'mon Regaine/Propecia(tm). What do you think? New slogan? 😎🧴🧔

@Eris123451 3 жыл бұрын

@@rickh3714 I had to look that up, but yeh. It made me laugh anyway.

@mamamememoo Жыл бұрын

Sounds like Elon Musk alright.

@markstarmer3677 4 ай бұрын

A most interesting and enlightening short lecture on the history of this painting, and the artist. Susan Foister enthusiasm is infectious as she takes us on this journey keeping the viewer engaged with no notes to refur to. An asset to the National.

@not8rious Ай бұрын

Eloquent lecturer. A true pleasure to listen to

@tompommerel2136 3 ай бұрын

Wonderfully RICH presentation of so many aspects historically connected to this fabulous portrait. THANK YOU!!!!

@spikeyflo Жыл бұрын

I saw this painting in 1973 while a teenager and accompanying my father on an exhausting art gallery tour of the UK. The one painting from this trip that I remember vividly is this, the most beautiful painting I've ever seen. If you can, go to the gallery and check it out. You won't be disappointed. Mike from Sydney, Australia.

@adhoc9647 Жыл бұрын

My gosh, what an eloquent speaker! ! THANK YOU so much ! !

@catslove3884 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Knowing the background makes the painting come alive.

@kimberlyperrotis8962 2 жыл бұрын

I think Holbein is the greatest portraitist ever. Not only was he a virtuoso painter, he could capture the essence of a person with just a few lines in a quick sketch. To me, he’s the Mozart of the art world, the two most gifted artists ever in their fields.

@christinagriffith3353 Жыл бұрын

After doing a lot of family research I have traced Christina of Denmark to be my 13th great grandmother. This was an excellent lecture very in depth.

@matthiasbro8030 5 жыл бұрын

This picture captures more magic for me than the Mona Lisa in Paris does. It's marvellous and I really enjoyed the talk too.

@perditachavez 5 жыл бұрын

@Pete's Guitar Lessons TV please shut up with your non sens

@tlpricescope7772 4 жыл бұрын

Very small nose for woman at the time. It seems everyone had enormous noses back then!!

@robynjones7691 2 жыл бұрын

Ms Foister is a superb lecturer! Thank you to all concerned 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻

@grounded9623 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing story, glad the painting was kept in England and Christina kept her head; Cheers from Canada.

@carolking6355 9 ай бұрын

That brought me to tears. My late husband passed at 80 , 1/4 Danish. His grandmother Christina had come here as a little child with a large family when the Germans took over their land as Sleswick sp. Holstein. Her grandparents stayed behind. I have a photo of the dear little old couple in what we called national dress. If only I had known how special that name was I would have called one of our daughters Christina. The best I could find was Kirsten. It saddens me what the beautiful Christina suffered. It uplifts me that she had the humour to turn down Henry the 8th. I have a photo of my husband taken with Christina his grandmother taken c1944. She was a very upclass lady who had disproved of his parent’s wedding. Thank you for such a wonder story I wish I was younger and had time to visit or research. ❤

@MelanieMaguire 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful painting. Fascinating to look at her face, she looks so real and alive. It seems as though she's just about to smile. Thanks for the lecture and the upload. :)

@BigDog366 4 жыл бұрын

I'm reading about the exact moment this portrait comes to England in Hilary Mantel's Mirror and the Light--the last of her superb Thomas Cromwell trilogy. And I click randomly on my favourite National Gallery site and here is this talk. Wonderful.

@preservethemankindliveinde192 3 жыл бұрын

Synchronicity

@evangelist6277 2 жыл бұрын

Very well presented and informative. I like it when the lecturer knows their stuff and can wax lyrical it makes it so much easier to listen to.

@elderlypoodle9181 4 жыл бұрын

I feel like I should be paying tuition to see this. Thank you for speaking and sharing. And oh !!! Look at how the folds on her gown are painted. Simply gorgeous.

@spottedbutt 3 жыл бұрын

The Queen!!!🤔

@anacletwilliams8315 2 жыл бұрын

You can generously contribute to the National Gallery if you like. There are many ways to do so. We would appreciate it.

@JJONNYREPP 2 жыл бұрын

Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark' | The History of the National Gallery in Six Paintings 1419PM 23.2.22 as for holbein - yes, i enjoy his work. you will be happy to note...

@pencilsandlight1318 8 ай бұрын

Excellent lecture! This is a supremely elegant portrait. Those hands are without equal.

@carolefreeman2544 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a beautiful portrait painting of Christina of Denmark. It looks almost three dimensional (at least 2 dimensional). The background colour works marvellously with the Black Satin she is wearing. I would love to see this painting in the flesh.

@evaboldt653 4 жыл бұрын

Susan Foister ... thank you for this amazing presentation. Could listen to you for hours.

@yreshetn 4 ай бұрын

The lecture was absolutely stunning. I couldn't stop watching. The painting is beautiful indeed.

@user-pn7jk9sj8b 3 ай бұрын

Christina would have been quite happy with the way you beautifully described the painting. 🎉

@ColliCub 4 жыл бұрын

It’s worth noting that Christina was wholly opposed to marrying Henry from the outset, especially given that his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, the woman from whom Henry’s divorce brought about the Reformation, was in fact Christina’s great-aunt.

@OmmerSyssel 3 жыл бұрын

Intermarriage were a quite normal phenomenon in our royal families... During generations leading to physical and intellectual issues. Danish Prince Knud were one of them, causing general amusement and gossip.

@robertracicot7232 3 жыл бұрын

Listen to the video again 7:15, "Christina said that she don't have an opinion about her marrying Henry the VIII and that she will do what the emperor's command." May you cite your sources

@ColliCub 3 жыл бұрын

Robert Racicot “Christina, then only sixteen years old, made no secret of her opposition to marrying the English king, who by this time had a reputation around Europe for his mistreatment of wives: Henry had divorced his first wife Catherine of Aragon (Christina's great-aunt), and beheaded his second, Anne Boleyn. She supposedly said, "If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England's disposal." Alison Weir in The Lady in the Tower ISBN 978-0-345-45321-1 p. 296 Cited. 😙

@JJONNYREPP 2 жыл бұрын

Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark' | The History of the National Gallery in Six Paintings 1412pm 23.2.22 "NEEDED THE SPARE"? i could have sworn i saw this previously... but i dont recall such an off the cuff remark before re: henry's regal peccadilloes... strange what you miss when you initially engage with something...

@cyndifoore7743 2 жыл бұрын

Oh!

@michaeljohnangel6359 4 жыл бұрын

A really good lecture, as always. People interested in Holbein might like to know that the drawings he worked from were traced by using a camera lucida; this is how he achieved such verisimilitude in the short amount of time given him by his stters. Then, after tracing the drawings onto his panel (the heads in the paintings are exactly the same size as the heads in the camera lucida drawings), the figure was painted from his imagination (and from his knowledge of the planar structure of a face). This, by the way, is why he had colour notes on his drawings: he didn't paint from life.

@JJONNYREPP 2 жыл бұрын

Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark' | The History of the National Gallery in Six Paintings 2420pm 23.2.22 i seized on your comment. thanks. i was trynna detail which artists of the medieval period would have used optics and the like to generate detailed and geometeric precise imagery. this use of optics and mirrors (refer to our friend david hockney) is one step away from photography and can point the way to the early photographic process (dare we suggest the turin shroud was an early foray into the noble art of photography?)

@JJONNYREPP 2 жыл бұрын

@@MrAdryan1603 i, too, know nothing about anything... so it's dead reassuring to note that other more erudite chaps can wax upon these topics with some joy and certainty - as we lap it up. we - the dupes and idiots. thanx.

@stinew358 2 жыл бұрын

The camera lucida wasn't invented until hundreds of years after the painting. The artists of this time had tricks but it wasn't a camera lucida. There's not really any evidence of photographic perspective in these works either. They had meshes and grids which would make quick work of a portrait.

@ladyethyme Жыл бұрын

The camera lucida wasn’t invented yet…. Not for hundreds of years-it was invented in 1806 by a chemist. None of your assertions are correct-and are glaringly obvious to anyone who has actually studied art history and painting. You literally you can achieve the effect of ‘realism’ through various other techniques and methods, including grids, experience, and observation. These are techniques still taught today, with artists achieving wonderful realism without tracing. It’s mildly insulting to insinuate he had to have traced to achieve this level of realism; particularly with the wildly inaccurate claim that the camera was used. And I hate to tell you-but we use colour notes when painting from life. It’s not uncommon. I think perhaps you don’t understand what painting from life entails.

@JJONNYREPP Жыл бұрын

@@ladyethyme Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark' | The National Gallery 2146pm 2.8.22 thumbs up cos you deigned to reply... but i am certain your exactitude on the matter is suspect. maybe even hockney would maybe question your notions regards optic use and the camera obscura - it has been mooted that optics were used way before official documentation... we do the past a discredit - assuming such folk must have been dolts as we're allegedly technologically superior. not so.. i disagree... i do comprehend the notions of copying from life - your realism, as you put it. over painting or copying from other sources to then present it as an original or as a study from alleged real life would not have been uncommon... there are a lot of bluffers in your game of art, of that i am sure. i think you maybe go and check out hockey's own observations and intimations regards what could and could not be achieved. no; i am not an artists at all. and i doubt it matters much re: viewing an image and taking a stance on hat is or is not applicable to the process of painting... there is some innate disgust with the art world by artists themselves so all is not well in that world... anyhow; not a case of bowing to one's betters more a case of humming and aghhing at their seeming intransience on various matters or artists...

@j0nnyism 2 жыл бұрын

A beautiful women with a strong instinct for self preservation. I can’t imagine that there would be many women brave enough to reject Henry

@Thepourdeuxchanson 2 жыл бұрын

Braver still to accept him. The worst that could happen if she rejected him would be being returned to her parents in disgrace. Accept him and risk death if she didn't perform her duty.

@Pattersonization 2 жыл бұрын

That coat is really beautiful!

@SUSSDUE 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this interesting talk! The National Gallery is a must whehever I have been fortunate to go to London. I always visit my ” old friend” van Eyck and come away happy. That all this fantastic art is free for everyone to visit is so generous and shows how great art ought to be acessible for everyone as it is everyones heritage! I applaud the great national museums ( in all countries) that make art and culture freely acessible to everyone, from the pauper to the millionaire! I understand of course that museums need income/ funds to make this possible, but it is brilliant if they can find this funding ( governement, lottery, private) without changing an entrance fee.

@AthensArtWalk 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing story. Thank you so much for this excellent lecture.

@Rubytuesday1569 2 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this lecture very much. Very comprehensive and well presented. Thank you.☮️

@eliasmokbel1638 9 ай бұрын

Amazing presentation!

@xh3416 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for such a wonderful lesson of art and history.

@lizmerrick6883 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful lecture. I've seen this painting many times (not in person) and am amazed to see how large it is! It seems unnecessary for a marriage prospect portrait, but also interesting. I wonder what it would be like to stand in front of a life size, beautifully rendered portrait of a person you might marry in an age without photography. It would feel like she was in the room with you.

@sg639 2 жыл бұрын

That reminds me of Browning's, "My Last Duchess" (in reverse, of course).

@annwilliams6438 2 жыл бұрын

‘There are many (nobles), but only one Holbein!’ Henry VIII in The Tudors. ;)

@annasahlstrom6109 Жыл бұрын

I love these talks! My mom was the Art Lady at my grade school and one of the artists she taught us about was Hans Holbein the Younger.

@rebeccalott8170 4 жыл бұрын

I LOVE the National Gallery talks!! So glad these are available on KZfaq 🥰💕💕

@johnAsanz 5 жыл бұрын

A wonderful presentation about an equally wonderful painting, I often spend time in front of this on my weekly visits to the gallery and knew nothing about the anonymous lady who helped us to keep it here. I for one am for ever grateful that she did so. Thank you

@matthewcondon1985 11 күн бұрын

That was very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing this lecturer!

@nationalgallery 11 күн бұрын

Our pleasure, thank you for watching

@subjectline 3 жыл бұрын

This is an amazing picture. When you stand in front of it, it seems to show a dimple in the act of appearing.

@robcoghan5204 4 жыл бұрын

I love the British, a great speaker replete with knowledge aforethought.

@markwardel6751 4 жыл бұрын

great talk...I could listen to this lady all day.

@christopherheinig5590 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent discourse thank you !

@cvbzizou 2 жыл бұрын

I love thèse lectures! I geek out every time! 🤓 Bravo to The National Gallery for promoting and sustaining our love for these art treasures. 👏🏼

@lisastallingskeelor3328 4 жыл бұрын

I wish the camera were focused on the speaker and the painting. Not the backs of heads. The speaker could narrate documentaries. She has a nice voice and speaks well as well as being fully versed on the subject.

@hunkhk 2 жыл бұрын

what a wonderful lecturer - Im enthralled - thank you

@vivabec 4 жыл бұрын

love those lectures! always pointing out interesting stories and perspectives. thank you for uploading!

@Mandarinen 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! i really enjoyed the lecture. As a Swede studying 16th century Scandinavia (mostly the Swedish Vasa family), I have to point out that Christina's father Christian II did not introduce the reformation to Denmark (That's Christian III.) although I think you can say that he and the Swedish archbishop Gustav Trolle were indirectly partly responsible for the Swedish one. Christian II was only a very horrible (and horrifying!) ruler who killed a lot of people all over Scandinavia, mostly in Stockholm in November 1520 where he executes a huge part of the Swedish nobilty, their servants and the council of Stockholm (He and Trolle claimed heresy, which gets the pope angry.). He was overthrown almost directly in Sweden (including Finland) and then in Denmark-Norway (including Iceland) a couple of years later and the Danish Council of the Realm even says that they dismiss him because they fear for their lives.

@nanasophieholm9252 4 жыл бұрын

Didn't he get the rather grueling "nickname" Christian Tyrann due to the killings in Stockholm? -In Denmark we call it "Det Stockholmske Blodbad".

@Mandarinen 4 жыл бұрын

@@nanasophieholm9252 Yes, from surviving monks in Nydala kloster in Småland where he killed a lot of monks on his way home to Copenhagen. The smålanders sort of free themselves in less then a month afterwards making me think Sweden would have thrown Christian out without Gustav Vasa.

@angiedefreitas5060 4 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this. Thank you: wonderful topic and a wonderfully informative and entertaining presentation.

@PaulLewey 5 жыл бұрын

A Great video and Beautiful talk from Susan Foister, thank you.

@ayselsalamova3649 3 жыл бұрын

I always watch National Gallery's lectures ❣ each time learn so much information. Thank you 🙏💗💗💗

@carolynl1424 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent lecture - thank you!

@dearmaria4654 4 жыл бұрын

She's indeed very beautiful and very smart too not to marry Henry VIII.

@louise-yo7kz 3 жыл бұрын

👍🏾

@tothejazz4828 2 жыл бұрын

What an incredibly rich story. Thank you so much for sharing this!

@GFunk4YoTrunk88 2 жыл бұрын

Very good and informative presentation. Thank you Susan Foister.

@leannesmith3480 Жыл бұрын

Wow, now captivated by Christina of Denmark! I'll have to find out more about her.

@OmmerSyssel 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation of an extraordinary piece of Art. By order of a greedy King of England a splendid German artist travels to France portraying a beautiful newly widoved Danish princess. Thanks a lot for the effort to all involved...

@Backskool 2 жыл бұрын

Susan is amazing!!! Looking forward to hearing more from her

@mariaalejandralatorre114 2 жыл бұрын

I think princess Athena of Denmark( daughter of prince Joachim and princess Marie) bears a astonishing resemblance to her ancestor! Genetics is fascinating

@darrenhudson5503 4 жыл бұрын

Have just discovered the joy of art..somehow it seems to make sense to.me..really love holbein..

@lizaluk Жыл бұрын

Her way of narration tranquil.

@angie9430 4 жыл бұрын

Fascinating and well told story will look her up. Thank you !

@clearlake3492 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting talk on a truly wonderful painting.

@63artemisia63 2 жыл бұрын

Speaking of things Henry didn’t like about Anne of Cleves, she wasn’t keen on him either. His putrid leg made being in even nearby rooms a problem. (Everyone was afraid to tell him.) Imagine then, being in the same bed! His overbearing presence in other ways, also put her off. If I remember my reading about their relationship right, the two ended up sharing a mutual respect.

@michellegordon456 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for posting a very interesting, informative and very enjoyable lecture on such a fabulous painting with such a history.

@mamamia6925 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this lecture!

@TheSaltydog07 3 жыл бұрын

Love this artist.

@wangxuechun5212 Жыл бұрын

terrific! story lies behind the scene, so lovely to know how the Gallery bought this painting.

@lovevelvetbones7507 Жыл бұрын

Amazing! Thank you for letting me know this interesting story!

@janawaw8293 7 күн бұрын

Další zajímavý příběh obrazu , mohla bych to poslouchat celé hodiny. Děkuji

@gauriblomeyer1835 Жыл бұрын

Very good performance. I like the elegant pronounciation of the Speaker. Some other Holbein pictures could have been shown to admire his art.

@jeananneramsden Жыл бұрын

Agreed. A really good lecture. Thank you.

@charlotte8879 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation

@leylag1466 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent lecture as always. Thank you.

@nationalgallery 2 жыл бұрын

You are very welcome

@musicaclasicaviva4258 5 жыл бұрын

Es una ventana al pasado realmente pinturas maravillosas

@GuzThevenin Жыл бұрын

Christina of Denmark-Oldenburg, Duchess consort of Milan, and Upper Lorraine is my 5th Cousin 11 times removed.

@chrishoo2 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful! Wonderfully presented. Many thanks.

@nationalgallery 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@movingpicutres99 4 жыл бұрын

Very nice. Thank you.

@freyamckenzie5583 2 жыл бұрын

Most enjoyable episode.

@marthaeugeniaalvarezochoa7204 2 жыл бұрын

Great explanation,, thanks

@sintes88 5 жыл бұрын

Well said

@evelynramos445 8 ай бұрын

❤ ❤blessings! Our gal, like no other!

@kueichenglee7583 3 ай бұрын

Thank you

@shoelessjojaxon 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! So interesting!

@MamaByNature 2 жыл бұрын

I found this video searching for more information on Hans Holbein who I am a descendant of on my paternal side (his mother’s side Carol Holbein Gilkerson). We have many great artists including my son who is very gifted ❤️ such an interesting video!

@inezdruminez4196 2 жыл бұрын

Trank you for This wonderful Speech….

@marsp5636 3 жыл бұрын

*SIX* paintings

@amandajstar Жыл бұрын

And... I love Dr Foister's book on Holbein in England : )

@englishclasses738 5 жыл бұрын

cómo me ha gustado! Cuánto he aprendido! Thank you very much for this video, for your "delicious" explanations! I'd love to visit THE GALLERY London ASAP again and again

@namesalltaken159 5 жыл бұрын

A wonderful and enlightening lecture

@bodon2306 Жыл бұрын

Excellent

@renshiwu305 2 жыл бұрын

Hands, dimples - observers praised what they could see. No mention of her figure. That billowy outfit did its job.

@beverlyfletcher4458 4 жыл бұрын

Wonderful. Could the anonymous benefactor been Queen Alexandra? I didn't know that before but have always admired the portrait, and another interesting, long, life of the subject.

@silviacastillo3853 2 жыл бұрын

One day i wanna teach like Susan does

@madhavathyagaraj3030 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation. Can anybody please tell me which is the other painting on the wall, next to Christina? The colours in that painting are so attractive.

@georgie9084 5 жыл бұрын

Nicolas Neufchatel's Portrait of a Young Lady.

@madhavathyagaraj3030 5 жыл бұрын

@@georgie9084 Thank you!