“Portrait of Mary Wotton, Lady Guildenford” was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger, a German artist, in the year 1527. This Northern Renaissance masterpiece is executed on wood with tempera as its medium. The dimensions of the artwork are 80 by 65 centimeters, fitting within the portrait genre. Presently, the artwork is housed in the Kunstmuseum Basel, located in Basel, Switzerland.
The artwork depicts Mary Wotton, Lady Guildenford, adorned in attire characteristic of the period’s noble class. She is portrayed in a three-quarter view, holding a book which may suggest literacy and piety. The background features a richly ornate pillar, signifying her noble status, while the foliage on the right adds a touch of naturalism to the composition. The use of tempera on wood evidences Holbein’s meticulous technique, achieving fine detail and textural realism. The subdued yet rich color palette and precise rendering of fabric and accessories exemplify the Northern Renaissance attention to detail and affinity for capturing the essence of the individual.
