Matthias de l'Obel
1615
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 12.7 × 17.8 cm (5 × 7 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1951.11.124
Art Historical Context
Created in 1615 by engraver Francis Delaram, this intimate portrait of Matthias de l’Obel measures only 12.7 by 17.8 centimeters. The work exemplifies the engraving technique, in which the artist incises fine lines into a metal plate to hold ink, allowing numerous crisp impressions to be pulled from a single plate. Such prints offered an economical yet refined way to record likenesses during the early seventeenth century. Engravings played an important role in circulating images of notable figures across Europe. Delaram’s careful line work captures subtle details of costume and expression wit...
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...