How did the Portraits of Hans Holbein the Younger Function as Propaganda in Tudor England, and What was his Legacy?

Abstract

This dissertation examines how Hans Holbein the Younger’s portraits functioned as propaganda tools in Tudor England, shaping public perception and reinforcing royal authority. Arriving in England during a time of considerable instability and religious turmoil, Holbein employed specific visual strategies that transcended literacy and, in so doing, created images that both legitimised Henry VIII’s reign and projected stability.

The case studies of key works, including portraits of Henry VIII, Sir Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, and The Ambassadors, the research investigates techniques such as idealisation, symbolic costume, and object placement to express power, virtue, and continuity. Finally, how has his legacy endured from the Elizabethan era to today's media, digital propaganda, representations of power, and collective memory.