Shields of the Emperor Matthias
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Simon van de Passe
Simon van de Passe (1595–1647) was an artist, born in Cologne.
See the richer artist page1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Shields of the Emperor Matthias is a 1621 ink by Simon van de Passe, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This round image is packed with tiny, detailed symbols. You see shields, crowns, and strange creatures all around the edges. In the center, there’s a shield with a lion and a crown above it, surrounded by more shields and odd, swirling designs. The whole thing looks like it’s carved into metal, not painted. The lines are sharp and precise, which makes it feel like a stamp or a coin. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints from metal plates.
Simon van de Passe (1595–1647) was an artist, born in Cologne.
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