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[beginning of page] 4.

      Holbein had always hard so much of England from his

friend Erasmus, that when he found he could barely exist in Basle, he naturally turned toward that country, believing that there he could find better fortune, and so decided to go there. Erasmus wrote to Sir Thomas of the contemplated visit of his friend, and praised his art in the highest terms. More replied saying that though he can see that his painter is a wonderful artist yet he fears that he will not find England as fruitful as he hopes; but he will do his part to help him make it so.

       Holbein arrived in 1526, his portrait of Sir Thomas More

was painted in 1527, when More was at the age of 49, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and a member of the King's Privy Council. Two chalk drawings of him by Holbein are in the Royal Collection at Windsor, the earlier one being the study for the head of this portrait. Of More's family he also made many portraits and drawings, the latter being also in the Windsor Collection, and from which studies he composed that famous family group, of which the original sketch is in the Museum of Basle. But the painting itself has been lost. Other portraits by Holbein of In the Royal Collection at Windsor More and his Two drawings of Sir Thomas More

family                                   Drawing of Cicely Heron, his daughter,
                                               Drawing of Elizabeth Dency, his daughter, 
                                              Drawing of Anne Cresacre, his daughter-in-law. 

                        In the Collection of the Earl of Pembroke. 
                                              Portrait of Sir John More, his father. 

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