Peter Scriverius, Dutch Historian
1649
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1649
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Peter Scriverius, Dutch Historian is a 1649 ink by Cornelis Visscher, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with a wide-brimmed hat, a white ruff collar, and a long beard. He’s holding a piece of paper in one hand and resting his other hand on a book. The background is plain, and the focus is on his face and hands. The text below says *Legendo et scribendo*, which means “reading and writing”—so he looks like a scholar. The style is very detailed, with lots of fine lines to show shadows and texture. If you like this kind of precise, textured work, look up engraving.
