Paints:
* Oil paints: Holbein primarily used oil paints, which allowed him to create rich, vibrant colors and subtle nuances in skin tones. He was known for his precise and meticulous brushwork, capturing details with remarkable accuracy.
* Tempera: While primarily using oil, Holbein occasionally employed tempera for underpainting or specific effects. Tempera, a paint made with pigment mixed with egg yolk, allowed for a smoother, less glossy finish compared to oil paint.
Supports:
* Wood panels: Most of Holbein's paintings were executed on wooden panels. He carefully prepared the panels, ensuring a smooth and stable surface for the application of paint.
* Canvas: He also occasionally used canvas, especially for larger works or those intended for public display.
Other Materials:
* Gold leaf: Holbein often used gold leaf for decorative elements, backgrounds, or clothing, adding a touch of opulence and luminosity.
* Silverpoint: For preliminary sketches and underdrawings, Holbein sometimes employed silverpoint, a technique that produced delicate lines on prepared paper.
* Ink: Ink was used for details, hatching, and creating sharp lines in his drawings and occasionally for outlines in his paintings.
* Charcoal: Charcoal was also used in preliminary sketches and underdrawings.
Specific examples of materials in his work:
* The Ambassadors (1533): Oil on oak panel, with gold leaf details.
* The Portrait of Henry VIII (1536): Oil on oak panel, with silverpoint underdrawing.
* Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam (1523): Oil on oak panel, with gold leaf details.
Holbein's mastery of these materials allowed him to create lifelike and detailed portraits, capturing the personalities and complexities of his subjects with astonishing accuracy. He also employed innovative techniques, such as the use of perspective and chiaroscuro (the use of light and shadow), to create a sense of realism and depth in his paintings.