This Painting Tricked Everyone With an Impossible Illusion

This piece is called The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger. This 16th century portrait painting of Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve is full of amazing detail and symbolism. There’s also a very unique optical illusion. A massive anamorphic skull plastered in the center of the painting. How did he create this illusion? We may never know. One thing’s for sure, this isn’t your average double portrait! Thank you for watching!

#arthistory #art #classicart #fineart

Credits:
Rain special effect from Vecteezy

[j-sope]

The skull is an anamorphosis, created with mathematics. I wrote my final essay in high school about maths in paintings, including anamorphosis. It is really interesting! This skull was probably made with a mathematical grid. You can find lots of literature about anamorphosis and the maths behind it in old books from the renessaince. Another kind of anamorphosis uses mirrors, which is even way more complicated. But so interesting!

[natsucat]

I was at an art gallery tonight and was constantly thinking about what you would say about the pieces, look at the details and stuff haha, really had an impact on me

[D.D.suchetka]

The amount of details and symbolism in this painting is insane! And the skull, it’s incredible 😮 It's truly super skilled artist…

[baha]

I love how this channel went from less than 1000 views making background content to absolutely breaking the algorithm by tickling everyone’s lizard brain with the most interesting titles possible and ACTUALLY delivering on the content.

You deserve all the success. More power to you

[crissycrisss]

My father has a coffee table book of a bunch of masterpiece art that I grew up with and now getting to see your breakdowns of these gorgeous pieces I would fawn over in these books is just so amazing thank you!

[obo]

I want to say, i always find your presentations entertaining and highly informative. You dont make the puns, jokes, whatever too long or self absorbed as i find in other videos. I learn a lot from watching your videos and want to thank you for the hard work you put into them.

[asimpleuser]

When I was ten, me and my family had a three day vacation to London. I didn't speak english yet at the time.
We all visited the National Gallery there and when we came in front of the painting we didn't understand what the thing on the floor was. A nice old lady was on the side of the painting and noticed our concerned faces, looking really hard at the thing. She asked my parents if she could show me and my little brother the solution and then pulled gently me next to her. The little ten years old me was excided about the cool skull that appeared. I remember that day with a smile.
I'm happy to see more about that painting again in this video. Also, really nice way to look at all the details!

[tabby]

Your voice sounds so young yet you're a wealth of knowledge regarding art and history. Much respect! I very much enjoy your analyses of these beautiful paintings.

[harryli]

I love how you always have an understanding of the historical background before you analyze. Very nice video!

[actually_zer]

I find it so crazy how these old paintings are so realistic

[Sarendra]

I never found any interest in paintings, until I found your channel. It's so great! Please go on and give us all more insight into this incredible stuff. <3

[beautyforashes]

Hans Holbine was such an amazing artist. And through my interest in the Royal Tudor dynasty, I've become familiar with his portraits and sketches and they never cease to astonish me for how beautiful and detailed they are. And thank you for the wonderful videos you post and all of your attention to detail as well. You put a great deal of research into the subject at hand and it shows.

[myriamickx]

Given the wealth of symbols and details in this magnificent painting, I have to smile at your suggestion that Holbein had to rush the portrait of the two men as an explanation for their bland expression. I am sure there must be some deeper meaning. Holbein was such a genius we could spend a full hour trying to decode all the hidden messages, including the skull’s so bizarre aspect. How do you think Holbein managed to paint it? It is really something unique.

[NewYouTubeHandle]

Everything about this channel is top notch: the history, the art, the background, the depth, and of course, your lovely voice is just the cherry on top!

[teacup]

one of the rare times I have actually seen the painting in person already and knew the history before seeing your video! your analysis makes me want to go back to the National Gallery and see it again...!

[maepl]

The crucifix and the illusion skull the broken loom, the details are just spectacular.

[BoyProdigyX]

Waldemar Januszczak went deep on Hans Holbein in an art documentary I saw on YouTube. The whole chapter in history, and where Holbein fits into it, is so juicy and dramatic!

Cromwell, Catherine of Aragon, The Boleyns, The Tudor line, the bizarre ideas they had while religious persecution sculpted the facts... I finally think history is fun!

Great Video... THANKS... These dark dives into art are FASCINATING!

[XDscCC]

Thanks! Dynamite videos. I'm hoping I sense your personality through the narration and editing. Both are fantastic. Take my money.

[anacb]

As always, an amazing and intricate video! So much historical details. Love your job, love the edition, the information and the funny references.

[SkyWireMashups]

Used to be obsessed with this painting when I was younger, thanks for covering it.