Robert Stafford of Bradfield, Berks

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a high collar. He’s dressed in a fancy coat with ruffles at the wrist, looking straight ahead with a serious expression. The background is dark, framed by a decorative oval border with swirls and a crest at the bottom. The artist used fine lines and shading to show texture in the fabric and hair. This style was common in Baroque portraits, which often focused on detail and drama. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal plates.