Portrait of a Man (Sir Ralph Sadler?)
Medium
Oil and gold on oak
Dimensions
Diameter 12 in. (30.5 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jules Bache Collection, 1949
Accession Number
49.7.28
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the opulent courts of Tudor England, Hansbein the Younger crafted this striking *Portrait of a Man ( Ralph Sadler?)* 1535. Likely depicting the diplomat Sir Ralph Sadler, a figure in Henry VIII's service, the painting captures the era's elite with unflinching realism. Hol, a German-born master who became the king's favored portraitist, elevated portraiture to a pinnacle of Renaissance precision, blending Northern European detail with Italianate poise. Rendered in oil and gold on oak in a rare circular tondo format (12 inches in diameter), the work showcases Holbein's virtuoso technique. Th...