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Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) was born in Augsburg, Bavaria. Hans received his first lessons in art from his father. In 1515 the younger Holbein went to Basel, Switzerland, with his brother, Ambrosius. Among the many scholars living in Basel at that time was the famous Dutch humanist Erasmus, who befriended the young artist and asked him to illustrate his satire, Encomium Moriae (The Praise of Folly).

Holbein also illustrated other books, including Martin Luther's German translation of the Bible. He designed his series of ninety-four illustrations of the Old Testament between 1525 and 1530, in Basel. The illustration for Genesis 11 (above) shows the construction of the Tower of Babel.

At this time the factional strife that accompanied the Reformation made Basel a difficult place for an artist to work. In 1526 Holbein, carrying a letter of introduction from Erasmus to the English statesman and author Sir Thomas More, set out for London. He eventually became court painter to Henry VIII. The more than 100 miniature and full-size portraits he completed at Henry's court provide a remarkable document of that colorful period.

Holbein also found time to design the king's state robes, and made drawings that were the basis of all kinds of items used by the royal household, from buttons to bridles to bookbindings. In 1539, when Henry was thinking of marrying Anne of Cleves, he sent Holbein to paint her portrait. In 1543 Holbein was in London working on another portrait of the king when he died, a victim of the plague.