Jan Nicquet

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man in old-fashioned clothes. His ruffled collar is stiff and starched, and he wears a dark coat with a chain across his chest. One hand rests on his shoulder, and behind his head is a fancy crest with stars and a shield. The lines are sharp, showing every fold in his clothes and the wrinkles on his face. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and light, making the details pop. This style was common in the 1500s. Look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal.