1642
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sir Thomas Cromwell is a 1642 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a serious-looking man in a dark hat and coat. He’s sitting at a desk, holding a piece of paper, with a parrot perched on the edge. Scissors and a quill lie on the desk beside him, and the whole scene has a slightly rough, textured look. The name at the bottom calls him "Sir Thomas Cromwell," and the tiny print says he was important in King Henry VIII’s time. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and details, which makes the image look almost three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved intricate details into metal plates.
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
See the richer artist page
