Book excerpt: "This volume contains nearly the entire creative output of Hans Holbein the Younger's Basel period, i.e. the productive and innovative years between 1515 and 1532. In contrast to his later work in England, where he was active primarily as a portraitist and a designer at court, the Basel years were varied and multifaceted." "This publication also includes a series of essays by distinguished Holbein scholars. These cover Holbein's artistic development, analyze his graphic works, shed light on his religious panel paintings and focus on individual works and work complexes such as the woodcut series of the Images of Death. Holbein's artistic career, his patrons and his relationship to antique and contemporary art theory are also discussed."--BOOK JACKET.