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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Jonathan Jones

Woman in black: Hans Holbein's Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan

Hans Holbein the Younger's Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan (1538)
Christina of Denmark is the one who got away. In 1538 that fat old wife-killer Henry VIII was considering her as his next bride. He sent his court painter Holbein to portray her so he could see what she looked like. When Henry saw the picture he called his musicians to play, for he was in love. Christina wisely refused. Holbein’s painting survives as a masterpiece of portraiture contrasting her black robes with her beautiful pale face with just a hint of a Mona Lisa smile Illustration: The National Gallery, London
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