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Amerigo Vespucci

Crispijn van de Passe I

1598

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Portrait

Dominant colour

Amerigo Vespucci is a 1598 ink by Crispijn van de Passe I, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Crispijn van de Passe I
When & what style?: 1598 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a serious-looking man in profile, wearing a tall hat and a high-collar shirt. His face is smooth, with short hair and a strong jawline. Around his head is a wreath with words in Latin, and two birds sit on the sides of the frame. The print uses tiny lines to create shading and depth, making the face stand out. The words around the wreath say things like "Americus Vespucius," which might be a clue about who he is. If you like this style of art, look up engraving to see how artists create detailed prints with just lines.