Portrait of Thomas Godsalve and his Son John

Portrait of Thomas Godsalve and His Son John, painted in 1528 during Holbein's first English visit, is an unusual double portrait that places the relationship between father and son — the transmission of social status and knowledge across generations — at the center of its meaning. Thomas Godsalve was a Norfolk official with connections to Holbein's early English network through Thomas More. The composition, with the two figures sharing a common space and the younger's attention deferring to the elder, creates a visual statement of succession and continuity. Holbein's ability to orchestrate two figures without losing the individual character of either face is characteristic of his formal intelligence.

The two figures are arranged in a compact composition with Holbein's characteristic attention to individual physiognomy. The inscription and careful rendering of both faces create a family record of remarkable precision.