Portrait of Robert Cheseman
1533
Hans Holbein the Younger captured Robert Cheseman in 1533, portraying him not just as a wealthy Tudor gentleman, but as a dedicated falconer. Clad in a luxurious fur-collared coat and striking red sleeves, Cheseman gently cradles a hooded falcon, a clear symbol of his high social status and love for the sport. The Latin inscription floating in the teal background proudly announces his name and age—48 years old at the time of painting. Holbein’s incredible attention to detail, from the texture of the bird's feathers to the gold ring on Cheseman's finger, makes this portrait a stunning snapshot of 16th-century English aristocracy.