Henry IV, King of France

Art Historical Context

Behold *Henry IV, King of France (1596), a delicate engraving by the renowned Dutch printmaker Crispijn van de I. This intimate portrait, measuring just 13.7 × 9.8 cm on the plate, captures the of Henry IV during a pivotal moment in his reign. Van de Passe, a master engraver from Antwerp active in the late 16th century, was celebrated for his precise reproductive prints that popularized images of royalty and nobility across Europe. Created amid the French Wars of Religion, this work reflects Henry IV's rising prominence as the first Bourbon king, who had navigated religious strife by converting to Catholicism in 1593 to secure his throne. Engravings like this were vital tools for political propaganda, allowing the monarch's image to circulate widely through affordable prints, fostering loyalty and familiarity among subjects far beyond the court. Van de Passe's technique shines in the fine, intricate lines etched into a metal plate, inked, and pressed onto paper—a labor-intensive intaglio process that yielded exceptional detail in facial features, armor, and regalia. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this piece exemplifies the era's fusion of artistry and diplomacy, inviting us to ponder a king's resolve etched in enduring ink.

About the Artist

Crispijn van de Passe, I · 1565–1637

Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, born around 1564 in the coastal town of Arnemuiden in Zeeland, emerged as a pivotal figure in Northern European printmaking during a turbulent era. He relocated to Antwerp at a young age, the bustling epicenter of engraving, where he trained and worked from 1580 onward, becoming a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in the 1584–1585 guild year. The Spanish siege and ...