Who painted Leopold Dick?

Leopold Dick was painted by Hieronymus Hopfer in 1538.

Where can I see Leopold Dick?

Leopold Dick is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Leopold Dick?

Leopold Dick is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Leopold Dick?

Museum-quality prints of Leopold Dick are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Leopold Dick

Hieronymus Hopfer , 1538

Leopold Dick is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hieronymus Hopfer. It dates from 1538 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper center in plate: [Greek inscription, not deciphered] / Leopoldus Dickius: iureconsul: l'oratorie dei Rhetor; lower center in plate: Soli, opt: max ar sermo rexum... / ...Vale lector candide et dextro gemo interim melioriubs utexe fatis; lower center, below text, in plate, artist's monogram: I.[pinecone] H. ; lower left, in plate below text, inscribed by later publisher: 79; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: ue / [not deciphered]
Markings: Marked:none

About this work

Overview

Hieronymus Hopfer’s etching titled Leopold Dick, executed around 1538, is a monochrome print on laid paper. The work presents a solitary figure dressed in an elaborate coat and hat, his hand resting on a table, rendered with pronounced, incisive lines that give the image a vigorous, sketch‑like quality.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a gentleman whose posture and attire suggest a status of wealth or official function. While no narrative is supplied, the emphasis on clothing and the poised hand may reflect contemporary interests in portraiture as a means of documenting individual identity within the early modern social hierarchy.

Technique & Style

Hopfer employed traditional copper‑plate etching, pressing the needle deeply into the metal to produce bold, sharply defined lines. The resulting texture on the laid paper conveys a tactile sense of the artist’s hand, with the aggressive incisions creating a stark contrast that accentuates the figure’s form and attire.

Context

Created in the German lands during the Renaissance, the print belongs to a period when engraving and etching were pivotal for disseminating artistic ideas across Europe. Printmaking workshops thrived, and artists like Hopfer contributed to a growing visual culture that could be reproduced and circulated far beyond a single studio.

Legacy

Although less renowned than contemporaries such as Albrecht Dürer, Hopfer’s work exemplifies the vigorous line work and technical skill characteristic of mid‑16th‑century German prints. The etching remains a useful reference for scholars studying the development of portraiture and the spread of print media during the era.