Here's Thomas Cromwell at New York's Frick Collection, trapped in canvas by the Tudor court painter Hans Holbein: thick fingers gripping a secret missive, thin lips curled into a truculent frown ...

A 1532-1533 portrait of Thomas Cromwell by Hans Holbein the Younger Public domain via Wikimedia Commons A 1527 portrait of Thomas More by Hans Holbein the Younger Public domain via Wikimedia Commons ...

Holbein's commissions included decorative work such as jewellery, weaponry, woodcuts and frescos, but it is the portraits of illustrious figures like Sir Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Jane Seymour ...

Image: Thomas Cromwell as the Earl of Essex, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger (Getty Images) ...

Hans Holbein's famous portrait of Thomas Cromwell. The prayer book is set on the table in front of Cromwell. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons ...

Hans Holbein's portraits of the Tudor court defined an era, we explore three fact about the artist and his work that you might not know.

Here's Thomas Cromwell at New York's Frick Collection, trapped in canvas by the Tudor court painter Hans Holbein: thick fingers gripping a secret missive, thin lips curled into a truculent frown ...

Holbein's commissions included decorative work such as jewellery, weaponry, woodcuts and frescos, but it is the portraits of illustrious figures like Sir Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Jane Seymour ...

Holbein's commissions included decorative work such as jewellery, weaponry, woodcuts and frescos, but it is the portraits of illustrious figures like Sir Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Jane Seymour ...