December 1: The Ambassadors

This famous Renaissance painting, painted in 1533, is by the famous 16th century artist Hans Holbein the Younger and features French diplomats Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve.

It is a beautiful painting. It's rich in symbolism and also features an anamorphic skull.

Historian Eric Ives was of the view that the painting was commissioned by Anne Boleyn, who'd recently become Henry VIII's wife and queen consort. The pillar dial on the painting gives a date of the 11th April 1533, the very date that Henry VIII's court was informed that Anne was queen, so Anne may well have had something to do with this work of art. You can read more about the history of this painting and its symbolism in my three part series:

Holbein’s The Ambassadors: A Renaissance Puzzle? Part One: Context
Holbein’s The Ambassadors: A Renaissance Puzzle? Part Two: Symbols
Holbein’s The Ambassadors: A Renaissance Puzzle? Part Three: Jupiter and Change