330 - W. HOLLAR (*1607) after VAN DE VENNE (*1589), Portrait of Adriaen van de Venne, Copper engraving

W. HOLLAR (*1607) after VAN DE VENNE (*1589), Portrait of Adriaen van de Venne, Copper engraving Wenzel Hollar (1607 Prag - 1677 London) after Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne (1589 - 1662 ): Portrait of the painter Adriaen van de Venne from *Het Gulden Cabinet*, 17th century, Copper engraving Technique: Copper engraving on Paper Impression Quality: Good to very good impression, with clear detail and rich black tones; lines are precise and well-defined, and the hatching is well rendered. Inscription: At the lower part signed in the printing plate: "A. van Veen pinxit | W. Hollar fecit. | I. Meyssens excudit.". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "ADRIAEN VAN VENNE". Date: 17th century Description: A portrait of Adriaen van de Venne as a three-quarter-length bust facing left. The subject is wearing a dark robe with a white lace collar and has his hands resting, slightly open, on a balustrade. He has curly hair, a moustache and a goatee. In the background on the right is a curtain with a tassel, a window with a city skyline (church tower), birds in the sky, and a second, smaller figure at a desk with a book. The figure is rendered in a delicate line technique with dense cross-hatching; chiaroscuro contrasts emphasise the face and hands. Below the edge of the plate is a multi-line inscription in French containing biographical details and information on the publisher and engraver. This work is thought to originate from the anthology *Het Gulden Cabinet*, which contained a large number of artists’ portraits. Keywords: Adriaen van de Venne; Portrait; Bust; Three-quarter profile; Engraving; Etching; Wenceslaus Hollar; Dutch; 17th century; Artist’s portrait; City skyline; Curtain; Lace collar; Biographical text; Publisher; Baroque; Historical portrait; Figure engraving; Background landscape; Cityscape; 17th century; Baroque; Depiction of Artists; Netherlands; Size: Paper: 27,2 cm x 17,0 cm (10,7 x 6,7 in), Plate: 16,0 cm x 11,3 cm (6,3 x 4,4 in), Depiction: 13,1 cm x 10,9 cm (5,2 x 4,3 in) Condition: Rather good condition. Paper slightly browned and aged; a few small stains; sheet preserved with a wide margin on all sides; margins show signs of creasing; sheet slightly wavy