The Ambassadors, painted by Hans Holbein, is a painting of two wealthy, powerful and well educated men. On the left is Jean de Dinteville, aged 29, who was the French Ambassador. On the right is Georges de Selve aged 25, who was the Bishop of Lavaur.
This pictures is one of a type that shows well educated men with instruments and books. On the top shelf is a globe and other equipment used for understanding the heavens and measuring time. On the bottom shelf is instruments.
The broken lute string might symbolize "religious discord" and the hymn book could be for Christian harmony.
The skull might be in the picture because of three levels. The top is the globe and other objects for the heavens, the instruments for the living world and the skull for death. This is one of many reasons.
I got this info from http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-the-ambassadors.
This pictures is one of a type that shows well educated men with instruments and books. On the top shelf is a globe and other equipment used for understanding the heavens and measuring time. On the bottom shelf is instruments.
The broken lute string might symbolize "religious discord" and the hymn book could be for Christian harmony.
The skull might be in the picture because of three levels. The top is the globe and other objects for the heavens, the instruments for the living world and the skull for death. This is one of many reasons.
I got this info from http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-the-ambassadors.