Hermann von Wedigh III (died 1560)

Holbein's portrait of Hermann von Wedigh III (d. 1560, 1532) depicts a wealthy Cologne merchant from a prosperous trading family active in London's Steelyard — the German Hanseatic merchants' enclave on the Thames where Holbein found important patrons during his first English visit. The German merchants of the Steelyard provided Holbein with a steady stream of portrait commissions: they were wealthy, cultured men with connections to German humanism, and they valued portraiture as a record of commercial achievement and personal dignity. The inscription identifying the sitter and the date follows Holbein's standard practice for portraits where the identity required documentation — a form of painted record-keeping that combined art with commercial pragmatism.

Holbein's technique in oil and gold on oak is superb, with the face modeled in smooth, precise strokes that create a powerfully three-dimensional likeness. The costume is rendered with meticulous attention to the texture and drape of fabric, while the gold accents highlight details of jewelry and clothing with luxurious precision.