Holbein arrived in England in late 1526 in search of work, bearing an introduction from Erasmus to St. Thomas More, the English lawyer, scholar, and statesman. Holbein was welcomed as a guest by More, who found him commissions and ordered various works from him, including a portrait of his family (the original is lost but a sketch and copies by other artists survive) and this portrait.A father, wit, lawyer, and statesman, St. Thomas was beheaded by King Henry VIII on July 6, 1535. St. Thomas failed to acquiesce either to Henry's annulment or his assuming headship of the Church in England. St. Thomas' feast day is June 22.
