Portrait of Robert Cheseman (1485-1547)

Portrait of Robert Cheseman at the Mauritshuis, painted in 1533, depicts one of Henry VIII's falconers holding his hunting bird. The portrait combines Holbein's skill in human portraiture with his ability to render animal subjects with naturalistic precision. The bird's plumage and alert posture are rendered with the same precision that Holbein brought to human faces, making this one of the most naturalistic images of a hunting falcon in the history of European portraiture.

Cheseman's face and the falcon perched on his gloved hand are rendered with equal meticulous attention. The bird's feathers and the leather glove demonstrate Holbein's extraordinary skill with varied textures.