Frederick V, Elizabeth, and Prince Frederick Frederick Henry

Art Historical Context

This exquisite engraving by Simon de Passe captures a tender family portrait of Frederick V, Elector Palatine; his wife Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England; and their son, Prince Frederick Henry Created between 1551 and 1600 as a print pulled directly from a silver medal engraved the artist himself, it exemplifies the intimate scale of Renaissance medal-making, with a modest plate size of just 6 × 4.8 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art'swald Collection, this print (Department CG-E) bridges sculpture and printmaking, allowing wider dissemination of elite portraiture. De Passe, a master engraver from a renowned Dutch family of artists, showcases his skill in translating the medal's fine details—delicate facial features, ornate clothing, and regal poise—onto paper with remarkable precision. Engravings like this were prized for their portability and affordability, making royal imagery accessible beyond court circles. Historically, the image reflects the Protestant Palatine court's brief moment of glory around 1610–1620, before Frederick V's short-lived "Winter Kingship" in Bohemia amid the Thirty Years' War. A charming artifact of dynastic pride, it invites us to ponder the human side of history's power players, preserved through de Passe's meticulous technique.

About the Artist

Simon de Passe · 1590–1647

Simon de Passe (c. 1595–1647), born in Cologne to the renowned Dutch engraver and publisher Crispijn van de Passe the Elder and his wife Magdalene, grew up in a family dynasty of printmakers who had fled Antwerp due to religious persecution as Anabaptists. The second son among five siblings—four of whom became engravers, including brothers Crispijn II and Willem, and sister Magdalena—he trained un...