The Kings of Jordan Slain - Hans Holbein the Younger
Archival giclée
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Description
A detailed woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger from his 1538 series illustrating the Old Testament, depicting a scene of biblical conquest.
This woodcut, titled The Kings of Jordan Slain, originates from the series 'Icones Historiarum Veteris Testamenti', first published in Lyon in 1538. Hans Holbein the Younger, a master of the Northern Renaissance, designed these small-scale illustrations to provide a visual narrative for biblical events. The composition depicts a scene from the Book of Joshua, where the Israelite leader stands over the defeated monarchs of the region.
Holbein employs a precise, economical line quality characteristic of the woodcut medium. The central figure, clad in contemporary sixteenth-century armour rather than period-accurate biblical attire, dominates the foreground. His posture is authoritative, with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. At his feet lie the fallen kings, their crowns still visible, signifying their loss of power. The background features a simplified mountainous terrain and military tents, providing context without distracting from the primary action.
Technically, the work demonstrates the artist's ability to convey complex narrative information within a restricted space. The cross-hatching is minimal, relying instead on clear outlines and bold shapes to define the figures and their equipment. This approach was common for book illustrations of the period, where clarity was necessary for the printing process. The scene captures the brutality of the conflict through the scattered bodies, yet maintains a sense of order through the balanced placement of the soldiers and the central protagonist. This print offers a glimpse into the intersection of religious instruction and artistic practice during the Reformation era, reflecting how classical and contemporary visual languages were synthesised to communicate moral and historical lessons to a literate public.
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Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
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Specific Features
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- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
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Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
The Kings of Jordan Slain - Hans Holbein the Younger
Artist Biography
Hans Holbein The Younger
He was born in Augsburg, Germany, the son of a painter also called Hans Holbein. He studied under his father and was working independently by his late teens. He moved to Basel, where he painted portraits and religious works and illustrated Erasmus's In Praise of Folly with marginal drawings. Erasmus recommended him to Thomas More in England, writing that 'the arts are freezing' in Basel and Holbein should try his luck elsewhere.
He arrived in London in 1526 and painted More's family portrait, the first group portrait of a domestic scene in Northern European art. He returned to Basel, found the Reformation had destroyed the market for religious art, and went back to England permanently in 1532.
His portraits of the Tudor court are the visual record of the period: Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn (probably), Jane Seymour, and the succession of courtiers and merchants who populated Henry's orbit. The technique is almost supernaturally precise. The textures of fur, velvet, jewellery, and skin are rendered with a fidelity that makes other portraitists look approximate.
He was sent to paint prospective brides for Henry, including Anne of Cleves, whose portrait Henry found more attractive than the person. Holbein was not blamed. He died during a plague outbreak in London in 1543, at forty-five.
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