Symbolism in Holbein's 'Ambassadors' | Paintings | The National Gallery, London

[ceehall100]

Wondering whether Dinteville's thumb (resting on table) is pointing to a location on the terrestrial globe, to the New World across the Pillars of Hercules (Atlantis) with the skull being a large island that tragedy befell.

[Youngone2k9]

its funny how a heap of shit is considered art thesedays.

[wilkinson8707]

That's art not some crappy sculpture of egg and beans that you get now

[guitarjawalker]

The guy on the left is wearing Henry VIII cloths out of his portrait

[abbietabby]

How the actual Frick did he manage to paint a skull in so much detail that can only be seen from THE SIDE ?!?!!!?!!? I would have trouble doing that in Photoshop let alone some paints and a brush ?!!!!!

[Atlantis284]

lol

[antoniiathakur]

Wow how do they paint so realistically!

[RageAgainstAuthority]

@antoniiathakur Back in those days a painting could be sold for a lot of money. Therefore one would put a lot of effort into it seeing as it was their job to do so.

[aMasterfulMelon]

@RageAgainstAuthority

'Back in those days'....so nowadays paintings can't be sold for a lot of money? ..fool.

Also it requires far more than effort, it is about talent and the ability to convey sentiment and emotion into an artistic form

[digitised]

@antoniiathakur Study,practice, determination and a whole bunch of natural talent and intuition.

[rogums]

@antoniiathakur with brushes