Title Page to "The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine" by John Speed
1611
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1611
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a fancy stage with four men in old-fashioned armor. Each man stands in a round arch, labeled with names like "A Romane" and "A Saxon." At the center, a strong-looking guy holds a spear and stands on a globe. The whole thing looks like a theater set, with lots of carvings and crowns on top. The text says this is a map of England’s kingdoms. It was made in 1611 by someone named Speed, but the artist who drew it was Hondius. The details are sharp because it’s an engraving—lines carved into metal. Want to see how this kind of print was made? Look up engraving.
