THE

LIFE OF HOLBEIN

1

JOHN HOLBEIN, better known by hisGerman name Hans Holbein, a most excel-lent painter, was born, according to someaccounts, at Basil in Switzerland in 1498;but Charles Patin places his birth three yearsearlier, supposing it very improbable that hecould have arrived at such maturity of judg-ment and perfection in painting, as he shewedin 1514 and 1516, if he had been born so lateas 1498. He learned the rudiments of hisart from his father John Holbein, who was apainter, and had removed from Augsburg toBasil; but the superiority of his genius soonraised him above his master. He painted our

Saviour's Passion in the town-house of Basil;

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