The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger

The hid meaning insides the Ambassadors???

There is a white human skeleton between two persons. Actually, you can't see the skeleton facing towards the painting, you need to change the angle of viewing so that you could see the hid skeleton which the artist want to express that don't just believe the surface of anthing before you have tried all angles of viewing to find the real meaning.

The Ambassadors

使節

The Ambassadors
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533
Oil on oak
207 × 209.5 cm
National Gallery, London

The Ambassadors (1533) is a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger in the National Gallery, London. As well as being a double portrait, the painting contains a still life of several meticulously rendered objects, the meaning of which is the cause of much debate. It is also a much-cited example of anamorphosis in painting.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Besides the human skeleton, what other meanings are inplied? This is a precious memory record of friendship.

1. The characteristic of Renaissance and Mannerism is to draw the truth and realistic. As you can see the fur binding of the overcoat is very detialed, you even could see the texture of fur.

2. There are many things places behind them, including the planetarium, tellurion, poem book, music instrucment etc, all shows their rich knowledge and high education. If you do not have the excellent skill of perspective, you can't show the realistic and placement of those objects.

3. Like my video told, the skeleton symbols the changes of life, and sometimes you have to change your angle of viewing in order to find the real meaning of your life.

Refferences and further readings:

The Ambassadors (Holbein), from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Holbein's The Ambassadors and Renaissance Ideas of Knowledge:
"Gratiae invisibilis visibilia signa" from Art Home

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司