Details of the lecture

For nearly twenty years, between 1526 and 1543, Holbein painted and drew the most privileged men and women of the Tudor court. For contemporaries, a Holbein portrait was a mark of status. Today these beautiful works provide us with valuable information about Holbein’s time in England. Drawing on the important group of works by Holbein in the British Royal Collection, this lecture will explore the artist’s life and artistic practice through the eyes of the men and women who commissioned his exquisite portrait.

Lecturer: Dr Kate Heard

Dr Kate Heard, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings, Royal Collection Trust, Windsor Castle

Kate joined Royal Collection Trust from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, as she was looking to move into a curatorial role. She has since progressed her career and now holds a senior curatorial position within Prints and Drawings.
„When I saw the position in the Print Room at Windsor Castle, I was very keen to apply – it was just what I was looking for. I started as Assistant Curator before progressing to Curator and then my current role.“
As Senior Curator, Kate makes sure that the Royal Collection is cared for and presented to the highest standard, and that exhibitions are welcoming and inclusive for everyone. Developing her vision for an exciting new exhibition involves a lot of co-ordination, and the variety the role offers is something that Kate enjoys.
If you were able to see the spectacular Holbein exhibition she curated at what was then the Queen’s Gallery (now the King’s Gallery) in Buckingham Palace, you will know that we are in for a real treat.

Tho-Strange-Knight, © Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd 2026 | Royal Collection Trust