Henrici VIII Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniam Rex (King Henry VIII)
1551 to 1600
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
plate: 18 × 11.2 cm (7 1/16 × 4 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.14.649
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This engraving by Francis Delaram presents a formal portrait of King Henry VIII, titled in Latin as “Henrici VIII Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniam Rex.” Created between 1551 and 1600, well after the monarch’s death in 1547, the print captures Henry’s commanding presence through a richly detailed costume and regal pose. Measuring just 18 by 11.2 centimeters, the small plate demonstrates how prints could circulate royal imagery widely, allowing viewers far from court to encounter the king’s likeness. Delaram worked in the medium of engraving, a technique prized during the early modern period for ...
About the Artist
Francis Delaram
Francis Delaram (c. 1590–1627) was a prolific English engraver active in London during the early Jacobean era, producing several hundred plates that captured the likenesses of monarchs, nobles, and scholars. Flourishing from around 1615, he specialized in line engravings for portraits, title pages, and book illustrations, often working after prominent painters. His output contributed significantly...