John Gerard, Herbalist
1597
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1597
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
John Gerard, Herbalist is a 1597 ink by William Rogers, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a thick beard and ruffled collar. He’s dressed in layered robes and holds a book in his left hand. The background is plain, but the edges of the print are packed with fancy scrollwork and tiny symbols. The Latin words around him say things like *"herbalist"* and *"London"*—hints this man studied plants. The detailed lines and shading give it a three-dimensional look. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made prints.
