Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan

The portrait shows Christina of Denmark, widowed Duchess of Milan, at the age of sixteen, standing frontally against a turquoise wall. Holbein painted it in 1538 during the marriage negotiations with Henry VIII, after the death of Jane Seymour. Thomas Cromwell commissioned a plain and accurate likeness of the young woman, and the painter travelled to Brussels to see her and make preparatory sketches. Although the king was so taken with the image that he kept it until his death, the wedding never took place, partly because Christina herself opposed it and because of political and religious obstacles. The work stands out for its restrained composition: the black satin and fur-lined gown contrast with the pale face and the rosy lips, a tone echoed by the ruby on her ring. Her expression is lively and engaged, and the gloves she has removed add an intimacy unusual in formal portraiture. The cast shadow on the wall suggests depth without cluttering the scene. For its quality, it is often cited among Holbein's finest portraits of women.

Painter

Hans Holbein the Younger

Date

1538

Medium

oil paint, oak panel

Dimensions

179 × 83 cm

Museum

National Gallery, London

Genre

portrait

Depicts

Christina of Denmark

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