Walter Devereux, First Earl of Essex
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This painting shows Walter Devereux, the First Earl of Essex. He's dressed in fancy clothes, with a big ruff around his neck. The details in his face and clothes are very precise, which is interesting because this is an engraving, a technique that involves carving designs into metal plates. The engraving technique allows for a lot of fine lines and details. This was likely important for making portraits like this one, where the subject's appearance matters. You can learn more about this technique by looking into the work of artist: Passe, Magdalena van de.
