Richard Mabott (ca. 1485-1540)

Richard Mabott, painted in 1533, belongs to Holbein's systematic documentation of the Tudor court and its merchant associates during his second English period. The three-quarter portrait format, the plain dark clothing set against a neutral background, and the insistence on the specific character of a real face are all hallmarks of Holbein's English manner. Mabott's identity as a minor official or merchant reflects the broad range of social levels Holbein served: while his royal and aristocratic commissions are most celebrated, he painted men of the middle ranks with the same care and the same refusal of idealization. The Holbein portrait was a statement of status regardless of the sitter's rank.

Oil on canvas, the work demonstrates Hans Holbein the Younger's precise draftsmanship and psychological penetration. The composition is carefully structured to balance visual elements, while the handling of light and color creates atmospheric coherence across the picture surface.