302 - J. NEEFFS (*1610) after DYCK (*1599), Portrait of Gaspar de Crayer, Copper engraving

J. NEEFFS (*1610) after DYCK (*1599), Portrait of Gaspar de Crayer, Copper engraving Jacobus Neeffs (1610 Antwerp - after 1660 ibid.) after Anthonis van Dyck (1599 Antwerp - 1641 London): Portrait of the painter Gaspar de Crayer from *Het Gulden Cabinet*, 17th century, Copper engraving Technique: Copper engraving on Paper Impression Quality: A strong, well-defined print with deep blacks; the hatching is clear and nuanced, the facial modelling is precise, with a small lighter area on the right in the background Inscription: At the lower part signed in the printing plate: "Antonius van Dyck pinxit. | Iacobus Neefs sculp. | Ioan. Meyssens excudit". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "GASPAR DE CRAYER". Date: 17th century Description: A portrait of the painter Gaspar de Crayer, depicted in a three-quarter profile after the left-hand side. The subject is wearing a dark coat with a wide cape and a white shirt with an open collar. His curly, shoulder-length hair frames a distinctive face with a moustache and goatee. His right hand is raised in front of his chest, his fingers slightly parted in a rhetorical gesture. The background is rendered dark using delicate cross-hatching, with light falling from the top left onto his face and hand. Below the illustration is a multi-line biographical text in French, along with the names of the painter, engraver and publisher. This work is thought to originate from the anthology *Het Gulden Cabinet*, which contained a large number of artists’ portraits. Keywords: Gaspar de Crayer; Portrait; Bust; Baroque; Engraving; Anthonis van Dyck; Jacobus Neefs; Joan Meyssens; Iconography; Flemish; Painter; 17th century; Three-quarter view; Portrait; Scholar’s portrait; Artist’s portrait; Brussels; Antwerp; Printed art; Biographical text; 17th century; Baroque; Depiction of Artists; Belgium; Size: Paper: 24,5 cm x 17,4 cm (9,6 x 6,9 in), Plate: 16,6 cm x 11,3 cm (6,5 x 4,4 in), Depiction: 13,7 cm x 11,0 cm (5,4 x 4,3 in) Condition: Good condition. The paper has taken on a slight golden tinge due to ageing; a few small waterstains around the edges; slightly wavy; the bottom corner is slightly bumped; two adhesive strips at the top of the reverse side, visible on the left when viewed from the front