by Tracy Borman
First published 2025
Hans Holbein arrives at the English court with his paintbrushes and ambition. The German artist seeks royal patronage from Henry VIII, but the Tudor court proves more dangerous than any canvas. Holbein must paint the truth while surviving the lies that surround him. Thomas Cromwell becomes his patron and protector, yet even Cromwell's favor cannot shield him from court intrigue. The artist watches nobles rise and fall, their portraits outlasting their lives. Anne Boleyn poses for him before her execution. Thomas More sits for his portrait before the Tower claims him. Holbein captures faces that will soon disappear forever. Each commission brings him closer to the king's inner circle and deeper into peril. He paints Henry's wives, knowing their fates hang by threads thinner than his finest brushstrokes. The artist who came to document power discovers that survival requires more than talent.
Genres: biography, art, historical-fiction, art-history
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, survival
Setting: English Court
Period: Tudor Era
63 pages · Paperback · National Gallery Company