A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling (Anne Lovell?)
- Artist: Hans Holbein the Younger
- Date: probably 1527-8
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling (Anne Lovell?)" by Hans Holbein the Younger. Painted in the German north, this portrait showcases Holbein's skill in creating striking compositions and emulating a range of textures.
The sitter, thought to be Anne Lovell, sits with a red squirrel in her lap and a glossy-feathered starling at her shoulder. The half-length view creates an intimate image that focuses on the woman's facial features and the details of her clothing. Her outfit is simple but made up from a variety of different materials, each observed carefully by Holbein.
The fine white linen chemise appears grey in shadow, giving a sense of three-dimensionality that emphasizes the geometry of the fur cap and the curve of the shawl around the sitter's shoulders. The prominent shadow and the three-quarter turn of the sitter's torso separate her from the plain background, its intense colour contrasting with her monochrome clothing.
The portrait follows a formula used by Holbein at the time: little space around the sitter's head and body, facing to the right at a three-quarter angle, and the blue background made up of azurite mixed with white. This painting is in excellent condition, making it easy to admire Holbein's technique for painting the array of textures.
The animals were probably added at a late stage, after the woman was painted. The squirrel and starling are key elements of the picture, serving as clues to the sitter's identity and symbolizing her connection to the Lovell family.
See it in person
A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling (Anne Lovell?) hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
