Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with a long white beard and deep-set eyes. He’s wearing a ruffled collar and a chain around his neck, possibly a medal or order. The background is plain, but the face is detailed with sharp lines, especially in the beard and wrinkles. The name below reads *"Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva, Governor of the Low-countries."* The artist used fine lines to build up shadows, creating texture without color. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints with just ink and lines.