HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER (1497/8-1543)
Sir Richard Southwell (1502/3-1564)
1536RCIN 912242
Richard Southwell (1502/3 – 64) was a deft politician, renowned for his ruthlessness. This drawing is a study for a painting which shows Southwell aged thirty-three. Holbein noted at the edge of the paper that the sitter’s eyes were slightly yellowish and he carefully recorded the scars on Southwell’s neck.
watermark: Close to Briquet 1457, double headed eagle and crown [same as 12214,12256,12221,12260]