Sir Thomas Fairfax, General of the Forces Raised by Parliament
1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a man on horseback in full armor, holding a sword and a scroll. His horse rears up dramatically, and the background has small battle scenes with soldiers and cannons. The text above his head calls him "General of the forces raised by the Parliament." The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, especially in the armor and the horse’s muscles. The tiny battle scenes below show organized troops, suggesting this is about leadership in war. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved detailed images into metal plates.
