Henry VI of England
1598
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1598
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Henry VI of England is a 1598 ink by Renold Elstrack, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man wearing a crown and heavy robes. His face looks serious, with a short beard and a tight collar. The background is plain, but the edges of the picture have fancy lettering spelling out his titles, like "King of England" and "Defender of the Faith." His hands hold a small cross and a piece of jewelry. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and details, making the fabric look textured. This kind of printmaking is called engraving. Look up engraving to see how artists create depth with just lines.
