1603
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
William Barclay is a 1603 ink by Karel van Mallery, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a bearded man in a dark collar and ruff. His face is framed by a round border, and the background is plain except for a banner above his head with Latin words. Around him, eight small boxes show different family crests—some with stars, others with animals or shields. The crests suggest this was meant to show his family’s history and status. The Latin at the top reads *"Dominus Protector Vitae Meae"* (Lord Protector of My Life), which hints at his importance. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Karel van Mallery (1571–1635?) was a Flemish engraver who mainly worked on religious subjects and portraits and was also a reproductive engraver. He worked in Antwerp and Paris.
See the richer artist page
