King Henry II

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a bearded man wearing a crown and heavy fur-lined robes. He holds a globe in one hand and a scepter in the other, looking serious. The edges of the image are decorated with Latin text and small crests. The text around him calls him "King of England" and lists his titles, but the face is drawn in a stiff, detailed style typical of Renaissance portraits. The lines are sharp and precise, showing the artist’s skill with this medium. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.