Sir Martin Frobisher
1610
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1610
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sir Martin Frobisher is a 1610 ink by Robert Boissard, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking man in a stiff collar and long robe. He holds a walking stick in one hand and rests the other on his chest. Above his head, there’s a fancy coat of arms with a lion and a shield. Below the image, there’s handwritten text in old-fashioned English. The coat of arms suggests he was someone important, likely a noble or explorer. The text praises his bravery and skill, but it’s written in a way that feels like a poem. If this style of portrait interests you, look up engraving to see how artists used lines and shading to create depth.
Robert Boissard (1560–1601) was a French artist, born in Valence.
See the richer artist page
