Engravings

This painting is one of the most famous portraits of Erasmus of Rotterdam (Rotterdam, 1469 - Basel, 1536). Holbein represents this famous Dutch humanist, who was also one of the greatest moralists of the Renaissance, in an interior.

The background of the painting consists of a green wall tapestry with fabulous animals and yellow and red flowers, and woodwork (perhaps the doorframe). The scientist, wearing a barrette and warmly dressed, is busy writing on a sheet of paper, probably a parchment, resting itself on a book with an inclined red binding.