William Herbert, Third Earl of Pembroke
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
William Herbert, Third Earl of Pembroke is a 1621 ink by Simon van de Passe, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white portrait shows a man with a thick beard and ruffled collar. He holds a rolled paper in one hand and a walking stick in the other. Above his head, a coat of arms sits between two scrolls with his name and titles. The background is plain, but the edges of the print have decorative swirls and text listing his honors. The tiny lines and shadows in the engraving create depth, making his face look almost three-dimensional. This kind of detailed etching was a big deal in its time. Check out how engraving works to see how artists like this made such sharp prints.
