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Franny Moyle
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The King's Painter: The Life and Times of Hans Holbein Hardcover – May 27, 2021

by Franny Moyle (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 478 ratings
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A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK

'A great, thrusting codpiece of a book. It is big, bombastic and richly brocaded ... A jewel in its own right' The Times

'Evokes the painter and his world as vividly as a Holbein masterpiece. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is a must for lovers of Tudor history' Tracy Borman

Full of insight ... This is a gorgeous book, to which I am sure I shall return again and again' Dan Jones

Hans Holbein the Younger is chiefly celebrated for his beautiful and precisely realised portraiture, which includes representations of Henry VIII, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Anne of Cleves, Jane Seymour and an array of the Tudor lords and ladies he encountered during the course of two sojourns in England. But beyond these familiar images, which have come to define our perception of the world of the Henrician court, Holbein was a protean and multi-faceted genius: a humanist, satirist, political propagandist, and contributor to the history of book design as well as a religious artist and court painter. The rich layers of symbolism and allusion that characterise his work have proved especially fascinating to scholars.

Franny Moyle traces and analyses the life and work of an extraordinary artist against the backdrop of an era of political turbulence and cultural transformation, to which his art offers a subtle and endlessly refracting mirror.

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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Apollo
  3. Publication date
    May 27, 2021
  4. Dimensions
    9.45 x 1.97 x 6.61 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1788541219
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1788541213
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Apollo (May 27, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1788541219
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788541213
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.27 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.45 x 1.97 x 6.61 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 478 ratings

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Franny Moyle

Franny Moyle

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
478 global ratings
Beware - Tiny Print!
3 Stars
Beware - Tiny Print!
This book is a fascinating read, and the color prints are terrific. However, the print is so tiny (8 pt font?) that I can only read a few pages at a time before my eyes get tired. The attached picture shows "The King's Painter" on the left, a book with normal sized print on the right. I probably would give it 4 or 5 stars if it was esier to read, but I feel like I have to work too hard for each interesting nugget of Han Holbein's career.
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Top reviews from the United States

R H H
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well-written.
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2023
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Until I bought "The King's Painter", I had never heard of the author, Franny Moyle. Upon reading the book, I have been utterly astonished at her ability to clearly, and seemingly effortlessly, communicate the fascinating, complex story of Hans Holbein's life. Moyle has a startling talent for delivering the broad, panoramic cultural forces of Holbein's era, while simultaneously identifying fascinating details that bring Holbein himself to life. Moyle digs into Holbein's painting and drawing techniques in an equally impressive manner. I should mention that I've read over 700 books about art history, and I've produced several films for art museums. Franny Moyle is the very best author I have come across. I'm currently reading her book about JMW Turner, and it's another great book!
5 people found this helpful
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nom de plume
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the English edition (blue cover) over the American release by Abrams
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022
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I really wanted to read this and I am so glad I splurged and purchased the British edition (Blue cover) over the American release (Black covered edition from Abrams ) - although about $13 more list price the size of the text (font) is much easier on the eyes and makes reading more enjoyable. Abrams, what happened - I have so many lovely editions lining the shelves...Having said all this buyer beware! Despite numerous complaints AMAZON continues to carelessly place Allegedly new books in boxes with out any attention to detail and so the dust jackets arrive scuffed, worn et al. It's a shame the employees must be under such pressures that they don't care about how things arrive. Thankfully, some vendors (i.e. The Strand, Midtown Scholar, and other marketplace vendors still adequately back their books for shipment so they survive delivery despite circumstances.
4 people found this helpful
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Sara F
4.0 out of 5 stars Reach out and touch history
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2021
To commission a portrait of ourselves today, all one has to do is point and click. However in the 1500’s, it required social standing, time, and plenty of money. Hans Holbein rubbed shoulders with many history makers in Europe and England especially. This interesting side character of Tudor history deserves a longer look, as done in this biography by Franny Moyle. She makes a great point of helping us realize that without this artist, we would not have such detailed pictures of those within the Tudor story. The King’s Painter takes us through the life of Holbein that is pieced together by the friends and clients he kept, and the canvases he colored. The book includes Holbein’s early life and works which include gathering talent and uneventful events. Then the artist goes to England-beginning the excitement and painting the faces we recognize. I enjoyed calling up each of Holbein’s works online and then reading its description and background within the book. These masterpieces hang all throughout the world in the largest and most visited museums, showing the continued love for this painter’s way of capturing a person which is almost equivalent to photography. Moyle includes information on the extravagant colors Holbein used and the paints’ prices showed his detailed thoughts. The projects handed out to Holbein were those of prestigious court members in England, Henry VIII’s family members, and his own portraits at different ages. Although he was quite prolific, the master was taken away too soon. Any lover of the Tudor era should read this book to discover the man behind the brush. I appreciated receiving an ecopy of this book for an honest review.
4 people found this helpful
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Christian Schlect
5.0 out of 5 stars Hans Down
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2021
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Readers seeking to learn about the artwork created by Holbein the Younger will be richly rewarded by this biography. Alongside the art, and as a bonus, they will be seamlessly exposed to the seismic religious changes of the era and the discordant marital politics of a bigger-than-life Henry VIII. (The Tudor king was not wife friendly.) The author also helpfully provides interesting keys to the "reading" of many of Holbein's finest works.

Franny Moyle is a gifted writer and presents in her book valid reasons why Hans Hoblein remains an artist of immense importance and continuing relevance. It will win prizes.
6 people found this helpful
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David lemaster
5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional account of one of the most unique periods in human history
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2022
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I enjoyed seeing things like the plague, the split in the church and the iron rule of Henry VIII along with all the intrigue of his court as seen through the perspective of some one that was there for all of it, but not involved in the middle of matters. He was just there to chronicle it in paint.
2 people found this helpful
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floyd
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2022
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This book is so comprehensive about Holbein and about the times. It's an easy read, but packed with so much information. Brilliant.
4 people found this helpful
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Russ Stanley
3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite as exciting as described
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2023
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This was called a must read ....I was hoping for a little more insight into the life of Hans. The author had a lot to say about the times..... I did not get any in-depth, deeper knowledge about Hans...was happy to learn about his associations with Durer and Erasmus and others...but there really wasn't a great deal of insight into who Holbein was.... I learned a little more about Hans...but not enuf to warrant the price of the book.
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Red Rock Bookworm
4.0 out of 5 stars ALL THE DETAILS TO BE SEEN
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2021
Over 500 years after Hans Holbein painted Henry VIII and several members of his court as well as poets and others who walked to halls of Tudor palaces, visitors to various museums where his work is on display are still attracted to his artistic masterpieces and the truth embodied therein.

The paintings unveil the story behind the art’s making and the socio-economic times in which they were created. Holbein’s is a life rife with all the drama of a modern day soap.

In THE KING’S PAINTER author Franny Moyle offers a complex historical background of Holbein, the man, and the magnificent truth that is contained in his works. 4 1/2 stars
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Helena Khazam
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth purchasing
Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2022
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This book did not disappoint.
Informative and enjoyable without being dull.
Bought mine on Kindle, other versions might make an excellent gift.
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swiss miss
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in Germany on September 16, 2021
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Wonderful insight into Holbein's 'tables'
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Loverofbooks
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book and joy to read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2021
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Can there really be anything new to read about the Tudor Dynasty? You’d think not, but anything about Henry’s VII or VIII, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, Edward VI or any of their respective spouses and any author is onto a sure fire best seller!
So how to compliment such a crowded literary market? The fashion in recent years with a marked increase and development in research has meant that a lot of the ‘other’ characters that lived alongside, served or became an influence upon Tudor histories are now getting their moment.
Although Hans Holbein and his paintings of Henry VIII, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleeves are as familiar to us as their stories, I can’t recall as full and fascinating an insight into the life of one whose career owed itself to, in this case, Henry VIII and his Court.
While Franny Moyle has written an excellent and interesting biography, I learned a great deal about Holbein’s work, the influences and how he cared for his family, I can’t say as I got to ‘know’ the man himself.
As his life unfolds and his paintings take form it is fascinating to discover the process of developing the subject-matter – from a sketch, to on occasion a life-size image such as the stark ‘Dead Christ’ or much later the More Family or those familiar Henry VIII portraits. But then Moyle also includes the incredibly detailed, arguably pioneering miniatures he created long before the works Hilliard would perfect during Elizabeth Tudor’s reign.
Alongside Holbein’s work Moyle also reminds us of what it was like to live in Tudor times, political conflicts between France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and England. Holbein seemed to be very adept at pleasing all his patrons, regardless of nationality, but then his work held him in good stead with them all. It is only when the beginnings of the Reformation start to take hold of not just his patronage but also which religious faith to adhere too, that Holbein treads a very careful path to please one and all.
Moyle has written a wonderful book to read and learn so much about life under the Tudors that all the more famous biographies of Kings and Queens came to life in the background. The author also in many descriptions highlights the brushwork which gives us all these centuries later an almost photographic collection of what these famous people actually looked like. The subtlety of the subject’s hair, beard or eyebrows, a pale, pasty complexion or one that the sun has softly kissed with a gentle hue. The descriptions of clothes and robes give us an insight into the often secretive messages hidden in embroidery or props that attract the viewer’s attention. He explanation of everything contained within ‘The Ambassadors’ is a revelation.
If you like the Tudors and Art, this book is a must.
8 people found this helpful
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SP
5.0 out of 5 stars More than art history…
Reviewed in Australia on January 3, 2024
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Superbly written. Yes, it is about an outstanding artist of the Northern European renaissance but it elucidates nicely the lives of the people he painted; those who rose and fell during those revolutionary times. A beautifully illustrated and well crafted biography that non art history buffs would enjoy. Highly recommended.
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lakernut
5.0 out of 5 stars Given as gift
Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2021
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Recipient loved this book!
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