Ferdinand II, Roman Emperor
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Ferdinand II, Roman Emperor is a 1628 ink by Wolfgang Philipp Kilian, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a serious-looking man in a large oval frame, surrounded by fancy decorations. Around him are four figures: two holding swords, one holding a book, and another with a palm branch. The background is packed with crests, scrolls, and tiny architectural details. The whole scene looks like it’s carved into metal. The text around the oval is in Latin and seems to praise the man’s virtues. The artist used lots of fine lines to create shadows and texture, making everything look detailed and three-dimensional. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like Kilian made prints like this.
