The Ambassadors
1533 CE
A Skull Hiding in Plain Sight
Holbein used an optical technique called anamorphosis to stretch the skull across the canvas, making it appear as a strange blur when viewed head on but as a realistic skull from a sharp angle. At the top left, partly veiled behind a curtain, is a small crucifix, another symbol that is physically present yet easy to miss. The painting layers reminders of death and redemption into an image of worldly success.
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Holbein used an optical technique called anamorphosis to stretch the skull across the canvas, making it appear as a strange blur when viewed head on but as a realistic skull from a sharp angle. At the top left, partly veiled behind a curtain, is a small crucifix, another symbol that is physically present yet easy to miss. The painting layers reminders of death and redemption into an image of worldly success.