TheOldMastersPrintsThe Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger: meaning, location and key facts
The Ambassadors is an oil on oak panel by Hans Holbein the Younger, painted in 1533. It measures 207 × 209 cm and is held at the National Gallery, London.
Key facts
| Artist | Hans Holbein the Younger |
|---|---|
| Date | 1533 |
| Medium | Oil on oak panel |
| Dimensions | 207 × 209 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | National Gallery, London |
| Style | Renaissance |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q1212937) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
Two French diplomats in London, Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve, stand life-size beside shelves full of scientific instruments, a globe, books, a lute with a broken string and a Lutheran hymnbook. Everything alludes to learning and to the religious tensions of 1533.
On the floor, a strange elongated shape is in fact a skull distorted in anamorphosis: it can only be recognised by looking at the painting from the side, from the right and very close. It is a reminder of death in the midst of luxury.
Did you know?
- At the top left, half hidden by the curtain, is a small crucifix.
- The National Gallery in London bought it in 1890.
- It measures 2.07 × 2.09 metres, almost square.
Where to see the original
The Ambassadors is at the National Gallery, London. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
| A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) | above the sofa or as a living-room centrepiece |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Ambassadors?
- The original is held at the National Gallery, London.
- How big is The Ambassadors?
- The original painting measures 207 × 209 cm (height × width).
- Who painted The Ambassadors and when?
- It was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1533.
- Can I hang a reproduction of The Ambassadors at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2, A1 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €60.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
