Frederick V, King of Bohemia
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Frederick V, King of Bohemia is a 1620 ink by Peter Isselburg, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a serious-looking man in a fancy outfit. He wears a ruff collar, armor over his chest, and holds a rolled paper in his right hand. Above him, two figures—one winged—stand on either side, each holding a crown and a scroll with Latin words. The man’s face is framed by a decorative arch with more Latin writing wrapped around it. The tiny lines and shading in this print create depth, even though it’s just ink on paper. This style was common in Renaissance portraits to show power and status. Look up engraving to see how artists used this technique to make detailed prints.
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