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Henry IV and Maria de Medici

Simon van de Passe

1621

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque

Dominant colour

Henry IV and Maria de Medici is a 1621 ink by Simon van de Passe, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Simon van de Passe
When & what style?: 1621 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white engraving of a man and woman facing each other. The man has a long beard and curly hair, wearing a crown and draped robes. The woman’s face is turned slightly away, her hair loose and flowing. Both hold hands, and the woman clutches a fan or small object. The text around the edge reads *HENRICVS IV ET MARIA MEDICIS*, hinting these are historical figures. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, even though it’s just ink on paper. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.