Maria de Medici
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Maria de Medici is a 1582 ink by Johan Wierix, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman with a high, elaborate hairdo and a ruffled collar. Her dress is covered in detailed patterns—strings of beads, tiny flowers, and swirling designs. The background is plain, so all the focus is on her face and clothing. The artist used fine lines to create texture, especially in her ruff and hair. This kind of printmaking is called engraving. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed images without paint.
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