James Shirley
1623
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1623
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white engraving of a serious-looking man with a beard and curly hair. He’s framed by a wreath of leaves and flowers, like a medal or a badge. On either side of his head are small figures holding scrolls, almost like bookends. The Latin text below his portrait is fancy and hard to read, but it’s part of the design. The whole thing looks like it’s meant to honor someone important. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists used lines and shading to make images.
