This tiny portrait, called a miniature, is painted onto a playing card and is only 4 centimetres in diameter. The sitter holds a crayon in his hand, which gives us a clue as to his profession. He is the Swiss artist Hans Holbein, who was painter to the court of the Tudor King Henry VIII.

There is a Latin inscription in gold which reads HH anno 1543 aetatis suae 45, which tells us when the portrait was painted and how old the sitter was at the time. In fact, Holbein died of the plague in 1543 at the age of 45 so it is likely that this was painted in order to commemorate his death.

Think about the fact that this painting is so tiny and look carefully at the amazing detail that the artist, Lucas Horenbout, has achieved. He must have had to use tiny brushes to create such an image, including the delicate hair and beard, the pink lips, the ring on his left hand and the eyes, which stare out at us from 450 years ago.

The miniature was originally kept in an ivory box which is now lost. Horenbout taught Holbein miniature painting, and this beautiful portrait is rather like a dedication from the teacher to his famous pupil.