Hans Holbein's 'Christina of Denmark' | The National Gallery

Learn how Hans Holbein the Younger's portrait of the 16-year-old widow Christina of Denmark piqued Henry VIII's interest when he was looking for a new bride and the surprising story of how the work came into our collection with Susan Foister, our Deputy Director.

Follow us on social media:

The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10.00 am - 6.00 pm and on Fridays between 10.00 am - 9.00 pm.

Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

[spikeyflo]

I saw this painting in 1973 while a teenager and accompanying my father on an exhausting art gallery tour of the UK. The one painting from this trip that I remember vividly is this, the most beautiful painting I've ever seen. If you can, go to the gallery and check it out. You won't be disappointed. Mike from Sydney, Australia.

[Eris]

"He had an heir but he needed a spare, " priceless and too accurate by far.

[elizabethfox]

Holbein's paintings have always fascinated me. So lifelike. It's like you are looking at a photograph. I love these lectures.

[kimberlyperrotis]

I think Holbein is the greatest portraitist ever. Not only was he a virtuoso painter, he could capture the essence of a person with just a few lines in a quick sketch. To me, he’s the Mozart of the art world, the two most gifted artists ever in their fields.

[judithwilliams]

Thank you for an excellent lecture. We are so privileged to have these learned staff at The National Gallery who give their time in this way.

[markstarmer]

A most interesting and enlightening short lecture on the history of this painting, and the artist. Susan Foister enthusiasm is infectious as she takes us on this journey keeping the viewer engaged with no notes to refur to.
An asset to the National.

[matthiasbro]

This picture captures more magic for me than the Mona Lisa in Paris does. It's marvellous and I really enjoyed the talk too.

[christinagriffith]

After doing a lot of family research I have traced Christina of Denmark to be my 13th great grandmother. This was an excellent lecture very in depth.

[carolking]

That brought me to tears. My late husband passed at 80, 1/4 Danish. His grandmother Christina had come here as a little child with a large family when the Germans took over their land as Sleswick sp. Holstein. Her grandparents stayed behind. I have a photo of the dear little old couple in what we called national dress. If only I had known how special that name was I would have called one of our daughters Christina. The best I could find was Kirsten. It saddens me what the beautiful Christina suffered. It uplifts me that she had the humour to turn down Henry the 8th. I have a photo of my husband taken with Christina his grandmother taken c1944. She was a very upclass lady who had disproved of his parent’s wedding. Thank you for such a wonder story I wish I was younger and had time to visit or research. ❤

[catslove]

Thank you. Knowing the background makes the painting come alive.

[adhoc]

My gosh, what an eloquent speaker! ! THANK YOU so much ! !

[robynjones]

Ms Foister is a superb lecturer! Thank you to all concerned 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻

[elderlypoodle]

I feel like I should be paying tuition to see this. Thank you for speaking and sharing. And oh !!! Look at how the folds on her gown are painted. Simply gorgeous.

[grounded]

Amazing story, glad the painting was kept in England and Christina kept her head; Cheers from Canada.

[evaboldt]

Susan Foister ... thank you for this amazing presentation. Could listen to you for hours.

[MelanieMaguire]

Wonderful painting. Fascinating to look at her face, she looks so real and alive. It seems as though she's just about to smile. Thanks for the lecture and the upload. :)

[michaeljohnangel]

A really good lecture, as always. People interested in Holbein might like to know that the drawings he worked from were traced by using a camera lucida; this is how he achieved such verisimilitude in the short amount of time given him by his stters. Then, after tracing the drawings onto his panel (the heads in the paintings are exactly the same size as the heads in the camera lucida drawings), the figure was painted from his imagination (and from his knowledge of the planar structure of a face). This, by the way, is why he had colour notes on his drawings: he didn't paint from life.

[BigDog]

I'm reading about the exact moment this portrait comes to England in Hilary Mantel's Mirror and the Light--the last of her superb Thomas Cromwell trilogy. And I click randomly on my favourite National Gallery site and here is this talk. Wonderful.

[tompommerel]

Wonderfully RICH presentation of so many aspects historically connected to this fabulous portrait. THANK YOU!!!!

[evangelist]

Very well presented and informative. I like it when the lecturer knows their stuff and can wax lyrical it makes it so much easier to listen to.