What you are looking at
Two richly dressed Frenchmen stand on either side of a shelf crowded with globes, scientific instruments, a lute and books. A strange slanted shape floats across the floor in front of them.
Why it is famous
The men are usually identified as Jean de Dinteville, a French ambassador to England, and the bishop Georges de Selve, painted in London in 1533. The slanted shape is a stretched skull: stand to the right of the painting and look along it, and it snaps into shape, a reminder of death amid all the wealth and learning.
How big is The Ambassadors?
The Ambassadors measures 207 × 209 cm (81.5 × 82.3 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 10 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the National Gallery in London, which is free. Walk to the right side of the painting to see the skull.
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Also at The National Gallery
SunflowersVincent van Gogh, 1888 LondonFrequently asked questions
Who painted The Ambassadors?
Hans Holbein the Younger painted The Ambassadors in 1533.
Where is The Ambassadors?
The Ambassadors is in The National Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
How big is The Ambassadors?
207 × 209 cm (81.5 × 82.3 in). Its surface is about 10 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Ambassadors made with?
Oil on oak panel.
Sources: Wikidata Q1212937; Wikipedia, "The Ambassadors". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.