Note 50 — Chapter II · The History of the “Ambassadors” from 1654 to the Present Day. Chronology of the Picture.
Reading edition
In 1779 Carlos de la Traverse wrote from St. Ildefonse (Spain) to M. d’Angeviller, proposing to him to buy some cartoons for tapestry designed by Holbein. But the offer was declined on the ground that Holbein was “un peintre sec et demi-gothique.” (“Nouvelles Archives de l’Art français,” IIᵉ Série, t. i., 7th of the collection, pp. 258-262.) The cartoons in question represented scenes from the Passion.