Henrici VIII Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniam Rex (King Henry VIII)
1608
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1608
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Henrici VIII Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniam Rex (King Henry VIII) is a 1608 ink by Francis Delaram, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a man with a serious face, wearing a fancy crown and a ruffled collar. His chest is covered in symbols like stars and chains, and his hands rest on a shield with a lion and a unicorn. Around him, swirling text spells out Latin phrases like *"FIDEI DEFENS"* and *"HENRICI VIII"* in bold letters. The tiny lines and shading create depth, showing off the details of his robe and the intricate patterns on his crown. This kind of careful linework is called *engraving*. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints before photography.
