Portrait Miniature of Mrs Jane Small, formerly Mrs Pemberton

Executed in 1536, this portrait exemplifies the portrait tradition that Hans Holbein the Younger helped define. Painted during the later Renaissance period, the work balances individual likeness with the idealized presentation expected by sixteenth-century patrons. Portrait miniatures, developed in England by Hans Holbein, served as intimate keepsakes exchanged between lovers, friends, and diplomatic partners, their small scale making them easily portable across distances.

Oil on canvas, the portrait demonstrates Hans Holbein the Younger's command of psychological penetration and luminous color. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.