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Sheet of Seven Roundels with Portraits

Dutch 17th Century

1621

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque Portrait Order of Charles Iii

Dominant colour

Sheet of Seven Roundels with Portraits is a 1621 ink by Dutch 17th Century, a Renaissance work, depicting Order of Charles Iii, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Dutch 17th Century
When & what style?: 1621 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows seven small round portraits of men in profile, each inside its own circle. The lines are sharp and neat, carved into metal then inked and pressed onto paper. The faces look formal, like coins or medals. That’s because they came from silver medals. The artist didn’t draw these faces fresh; he copied designs already on coins. It saved time and kept the images crisp. See how the lines twist and cross? That’s called cross-hatching. Check the National Gallery of Art, Washington.