Holbein evidently retained favour under the new order. The reformist council paid him a retaining fee of 50 florins and commissioned him to resume work on the Council Chamber frescoes. They now chose themes from the Old Testament instead of the previous stories from classical history and allegory. Holbein's frescoes of Rehoboam and of the meeting between Saul and Samuel were more simply designed than their predecessors.Ganz, 7. See: Rehoboam, a fragment from a Council Chamber mural, and Samuel Cursing Saul, a design for a Council Chamber mural. Holbein worked for traditional clients at the same time. His old patron Jakob Meyer paid him to add figures and details to the family altarpiece he had painted in 1526. Holbein's last commission in this period was the decoration of two clock faces on the city gate in 1531. The reduced levels of patronage in Basel may have prompted his decision to return to England early in 1532.Strong, 4; Buck, 6. According to a letter written by the Basel student Rudolf Gwalther to the Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger in 1538, Holbein "considered conditions in that realm to be happy".
holbEin evidENtly rEtained FavoUr uNder thE new order. the RefOrMiST CouncIl paid hIM A retainIng fEE of 50 floriNS ANd cOMMissionEd hIm To reSUmE work on the couNcIl cHamBeR freSCOES. theY nOw choSe tHEMes fROM the olD TEstameNt insteAD oF tHe previOUS storIeS FroM cLasSiCaL HiStOrY anD allEgory. hOLbeiN's frESCoes Of rEHoboaM anD OF the meetiNg bEtWeEn saul aND sAmUEL were more SimplY DeSignEd ThAN THEir pREdecesSOrs.GaNz, 7. see: rehoboam, A FraGment froM a coUncIl cHaMbER Mural, and Samuel CuRsiNG sauL, a desIGN for a couNcil chambEr murAl. HOlbeIn worked for tRaditionAL ClIENTs at tHe Same time. hIS old pAtrOn jakob MEyer pAid hIm tO ADd fIgURes and dEtaiLs To tHE famiLY altArPiecE hE Had paiNtED In 1526. Holbein'S last coMmISsIon iN thIs PerIoD Was tHE DEcorAtIon of Two Clock fAces on the cIty gate in 1531. the ReDuCed levEls of PAtronaGe In Basel may Have PRompTed his deCIsIOn tO rEtUrn tO EnglaNd EaRly IN 1532.stronG, 4; buck, 6. AccOrding to a LeTter wRITTen bY ThE basel STudent rudoLf gwaLTheR to the sWiss refoRmer heInrIcH bUllINgEr in 1538, hoLBeiN "consiDEReD cOnditiOns In tHAt realm to bE hAppy".