early life and career hans holbein the younger, a german-swiss painter and printmaker, was born in augsburg, germany, around 1497. he worked in a northern renaissance style, renowned for his precise renderings of drawings. holbein's early career began in basel, switzerland, where he apprenticed with hans herbster, a leading painter. rise to prominence holbein's big break came when he painted portraits of the humanist desiderius erasmus of rotterdam. this led to his international recognition and a recommendation from erasmus to work in england. in 1526, holbein traveled to england, where he wa…