Studio International

Published 04/10/2001

Mystery burger unearthed

In London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, in a recent delving, have just found a previously unidentified Hans Holbein miniature, thought to be of a goldsmith by the name of Hans. He was a close friend of Holbein, and set up premises in London as well as Antwerp. ‘Hans of Antwerp’ would have been unamused at not being properly cleaned and inventoried for several centuries, given his close friendship with Holbein. Holbein died of the plague, a decade after painting this miniature. It is not recorded whether the canny Antwerp dealer hung around in London for a similar fate. The work will now go on exhibition in the museum’s new British Galleries, on 22 November.