The Queen’s Painter
Hans Holbein, portrait painter to the English court, is heartbroken and outraged when his friend and patron, Anne Boleyn, is beheaded. Striking up an unlikely alliance with Thomas Wyatt, they vow to bring down the man they blame for Anne’s death: Thomas Cromwell.
This is such a refreshing perspective of Tudor historical fiction. I devoured this book so quickly that I instantly regretted not savouring every page. Wendy Holden cleverly weaves those famous Holbein paintings into a fast-paced plot that has you rooting for the artist and willing the downfall of Cromwell. Not so long ago readers were weeping for Hilary Mantel’s hero, but in this book you want revenge. Holden positions Anne Boleyn as a ghost who talks to Holbein, a man who, through painting, knows his subjects’ very souls, and it is their friendship – albeit one that Holbein has desired more from – that is at the very heart of the book. Holbein loves Anne, and we get a very intimate, poignant portrayal of the famous queen through his eyes.
Holden’s exploration of Renaissance painting is richly detailed, from the sourcing and blending of pigments to the precision of each brushstroke, yet it never reads like a textbook. Her lifelong admiration for Holbein, noted at the book’s close, is evident in the care and authority she brings to every page.
You will find it difficult to look at Holbein’s famous The Ambassadors in the same way again once you have read this astonishing book. You will also chuckle when you look at his infamous portrait of Anne of Cleves – another fabulous character richly drawn. The Queen’s Painter will challenge you to go and look at Holbein’s work and as you stand there and wonder: perhaps Holden has a point?
