Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors (updated!)

A conversation with Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker in front of Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, oil on oak, 207 x 209.5 cm (The National Gallery, London)

[jennyhunt]

I enjoy the speakers' breakdowns of the works of art and their great knowledge of history. Thank you.

[HansDunkelberg]

Hearing about such a fascinating subject from an era greatly helps you to feel that such a time once has been real and how it still reaches into the present.

[Sasha]

This is definitely one of my favorites so far. It was immediately striking to me - I loved the vivid colors and smoothness of it... But the more I learned, the more impressed and intrigued I became. I'd love to see more work by this artist. :)

[richiemarrero]

Listening to these doctors talk about this amazing painting is great! Thank you

[percival]

All rather wonderful, your scholarship does you credit, and is a joy for us. Thank you.

[bev]

Absolutely FASCINATING!! As always with your wonderful videos I have been listen to again and again for years now, completely enthralled !

[nottees]

These masterpieces are well worth much consideration and analysis. Thank you for the insights, doctors. As I heard on another video about this painting, the expression on both faces conveys a self satisfaction that needs no confirmation, an alertness but little if any wariness. Something modern there.

[annatwelve]

Love the interpretation, thanks for sharing!

[emmalyke]

First sighting of the 'Cool S'

[robertgoulet]

This painting was featured in the movie "Calvary", which I watched last night. The themes of the painting and the movie are similar to each other.

[marthavillegas]

Marvelous! Thank you! Love your videos.

[watercolorpaint]

is anything known aout how long such detailed paintings like these would've taken to complete? that's something that I've always wondered

[JOHN-tkvl]

How many people would spot all those details? Amazing.

[GabrielKnightz]

With so much deliberate thought and detail that went into the painting, i wonder what the overturned black lute under the table represents. Or is that just a random lute case?

[clumsydad]

i was always struck but what an unusual work this was for its time, specifically due to the apparition-like skull. as well the rest of the picture is incredibly striking, and also filled with the assorted symbolic details of the objects. a fairly haunting and surreal work for its time.

[bskim]

Now i realize the reason why the anamorphic skull is located at the bottom. Thank you

[MMMm-pjyk]

Wow so many Easter eggs! 10/10 Can’t wait for the DLC!

[ap]

great video! does anyone know what the upside-down black lute might represent on the floor underneath the table?

[cadenjones]

I’m in 10th grade trying to find images that connect to the scientific revolution and the age of exploration but I am so lost 😞

[edthegoomba]

"the universal S" a symbol drawn by school children all over the world for as long as anyone can remember is also depicted in this painting, on its side near the center, much earlier than any other know example of the symbol