Eleanora, Wife of Ferdinand II
1644
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1644
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Eleanora, Wife of Ferdinand II is a 1644 ink by Pieter van Sompel, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman with a serious face. She wears a big lace collar that fans out around her neck. Her hair is pulled back, and she has a fancy headpiece with leaves and flowers carved into it. The border around her is packed with tiny details—leaves, flowers, and swirls. The artist used lines to create all the texture, like lace and fabric. This isn’t a painting—it’s made with a sharp tool on metal. Look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
