The Ambassadors

Hans Holbein the Younger, The French Ambassadors, 1533, High Northern Renaissance.

1) The portrait is exemplary of the trend of painting learned men, hence the props and clothing that represent the active vs. contemplative and earthly vs. heavenly lives

2) painted right before King Henry VII broke apart from the Catholic church and the Pope to establish the Church of England

3) Momento mori (anamorphosis) symbolizes that death cannot be avoided regardless of education, wealth, and family -- however, one can still be saved by Jesus (shown through the small cruxifix in the upper left corner)