Artwork
Portrait of Gerard Terborch
Portrait of Gerard Terborch is a print by the Romanticist artist Adam von Bartsch. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1963.558
About this work
Overview
Created around 1805, this print presents a seated gentleman, identified as the Dutch painter Gerard Terborh, rendered by the Austrian artist and printmaker Adam von Bartsch. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of early‑19th‑century portrait engraving.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with long hair and a modest hat, his gaze directed forward. The emphasis on the face, particularly the eyes and nose, suggests an intent to capture the individual’s character and professional stature, reflecting the practice of commemorating artists through portraiture.
Technique & Style
Bartsch employed a dense cross‑hatching technique, layering fine lines to model light and shadow. This method creates a textured surface that conveys depth and volume, typical of engraving practices of the period, and allows subtle gradations without the use of tonal washes.
History & Provenance
The print was produced circa 1805, shortly after Bartsch’s extensive work cataloguing Dutch and Flemish prints. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, where it remains a documented example of Bartsch’s portraiture output.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Adam Bernhard Ritter von Bartsch was an Austrian scholar and artist. His catalogue of old master prints, Le Peintre Graveur is the foundation of print history, and he was himself a printmaker practicing engraving and etching.
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