Holbein is perhaps best known as the court painter of Henry VIII, but before he moved to England, this sixteenth-century German artist was a celebrated portraitist and painter of religious scenes and altar pieces. Focusing on a particularly fertile period in Holbeinâs career, this book features paintings, drawings and sketches that the artist completed in Basle, Switzerland. There, Holbeinâs talent blossomed as he was awarded numerous commissions to paint the leading figures of the Reformation, including Erasmus of Rotterdam. In fact, it was Erasmus who recommended him for a position in London. Scholarly essays and a brief biography reflect the latest research on the life and work of this important artist. Colour throughout