Samson Lennard
1658
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1658
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman dressed in fancy 17th-century clothes. She wears a high collar with lace and a dark cloak over her shoulders. Her hair is pulled back, and she has a serious but calm expression. Around her face is a wreath of text in fancy letters, with names like "Mercurius" and "Samson Lennard" written on it. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, especially on her ruffled collar and cloak. The text around her looks like it’s part of the title or a dedication. This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists carve into metal plates to print detailed images.
