Who painted Portrait of a Young Merchant?

Portrait of a Young Merchant was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1541.

Where can I see Portrait of a Young Merchant?

Portrait of a Young Merchant is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Portrait of a Young Merchant?

Portrait of a Young Merchant is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Portrait of a Young Merchant

Hans Holbein the Younger , 1541

Portrait of a Young Merchant is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger. It dates from 1541 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1541, this oil painting on oak panel portrays a young man seated before a muted blue‑gray backdrop.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1541, this oil painting on oak panel portrays a young man seated before a muted blue‑gray backdrop. The work is attributed to the German artist Hans Holbein the Younger and is presently housed in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum. The composition centers on the sitter, whose attire and accessories hint at a commercial occupation.

Subject & Meaning

The figure wears a dark brown doublet with a fur‑trimmed collar, a white shirt and a black hat, suggesting the dress of a merchant class individual. He holds a small book in his right hand and a cylindrical object in his left, while a green‑clothed table bears a black item with a red cord, elements that may reference his trade or personal interests.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on oak, the painting demonstrates Holbein’s precise handling of detail and subtle tonal modeling.

Executed in oil on oak, the painting demonstrates Holbein’s precise handling of detail and subtle tonal modeling. The muted background isolates the sitter, allowing the textures of fur, fabric and metal to stand out. Fine brushwork renders the reflective surfaces of the book and the cylindrical object, while the overall palette remains restrained, characteristic of early‑sixteenth‑century Northern Renaissance portraiture.

History & Provenance

The portrait entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition is not fully documented, but the work’s date and stylistic traits firmly place it within Holbein’s productive period in the early 1540s.