Holbein, HOHL byn, Hans, the Younger (1497?-1543), ranks among the world's greatest portrait painters. Holbein was born in Augsburg, Germany. He received his earliest training there from his father and uncles, but moved to Switzerland when he was about 18 years old. Holbein worked in Basel, where he painted the portraits of many important people, notably the Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus. During this time, Holbein also designed a series of woodcuts called The Dance of Death (1523-1526). He also painted several important religious works during this period, such as The Dead Christ (1521).