The French poet Nicholas Bourbon (c.1503–49/50) was drawn by Holbein in the typical pose of a scholar, caught in the act of writing. Bourbon came to England in 1535 and became part of a circle of foreigners at Henry VIII’s court which included Holbein and the astronomer Nicholas Kratzer. Bourbon praised Holbein’s work as exceeding that of Apelles, the legendary Greek painter.