Thursday, July 7, 2016

European Etchings of the 17th Century

Jan Meyssens
Anne of Denmark (consort of King Jame I of England)
ca. 1640-70
etching
British Museum

Richard Gaywood after Anthony van Dyck
Sir Kenelm Digby
etching
1654
National Portrait Gallery (U.K.)

"Now as there are many great wits to be condemned, who have neglected the increment of Arts, and the sedulous pursuit of knowledge; so are there not a few very much to be pittied, whose industry being not attended with naturall parts, they have sweated to little purpose, and rolled the stone in vain. Which chiefly proceedeth from naturall incapacity, and geniall indisposition, at least to those particulars whereunto they apply their endeavours. And this is one reason why though Universities be full of men, they are oftentimes empty of learning. Why as there are some which do much without learning, so others but little with it, and few that attain to any measure of it. For many heads that undertake it, were never squared nor timbred for it. There are not only particular men, but whole nations indisposed for learning; whereunto is required not only education, but a pregnant Minerva and teeming constitution."

- Sir Thomas Browne, from Pseudodoxia Epidemica (1650)


Anthony van Dyck
Lucas Vorstermans
17th century
etching
National Portrait Gallery (U.K.)

Anthony van Dyck
Petrus Breugel
etching
17th century
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Pierre Mignard after Simon Vouet
David with the head of Goliath
17th century
etching
Natioinal Gallery of Art (U.S.)

Wenceslaus Hollar
Four Classical Figures (Pagan Sacrifice)
1624
etching
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jean Lepautre
Académie with sailors
17th century
etching
British Museum

David Teniers
Two women bathing
ca. 1630-45
etching
British Museum

Rembrandt
Cleopatra with Arrow
1661
etching
British Museum

Rembrandt
Diana at the bath
ca. 1631
etching
British Museum

Rembrandt
Two nude men
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Rembrandt
Nude man
1646
etching
British Museum

Rembrandt
Woman making water and defecating
1631
etching
British Museum

Rembrandt
Man making water
1631
etching
British Museum