294 - H. SNYERS (*1612) after BLOEMAERT (*1566), Portrait of Abraham Blomaert, copper engraving

H. SNYERS (*1612) after BLOEMAERT (*1566), Portrait of Abraham Blomaert, copper engraving Hendrick Snyers (c. 1612 – after 1647) after Abraham Bloemaert (1566 – 1651, ibid.): Portrait of the painter Abraham Blomaert from *Het Gulden Cabinet*, 17th century, copper engraving Technique: Copper engraving on paper, mounted on paper Print Quality: A good, clearly defined print with rich black tones and well-preserved line definition; slight gray haze in the hatched areas of the background. Inscription: Signed at the bottom of the printing plate: “Her. Blomaert delin. | Hen. Snyers sculpsit. | I Meyssens excudit.” Inscribed at the bottom of the printing plate: “ABRAHAM BLOMAERT.” Date: 17th century Description: A portrait of the painter Abraham Blomaert as an elderly man, depicted in half-length facing right. The subject is wearing a pleated millstone collar and a dark, buttoned robe. His curly, graying hair and short, full beard give his face a dignified expression. His right hand holds a drawing pen or brush, indicating his status as an artist. The modeling is achieved through delicate cross-hatching and parallel lines; the background is darkened by uniform hatching, against which the figure stands out in light. Below the illustration is a multi-line French inscription containing a number, name, biography, and publisher’s details. This work is believed to originate from the anthology *Het Gulden Cabinet*, which contained a large number of artists’ portraits. Keywords: Abraham Blomaert; Portrait; Artist’s portrait; Engraving; Half-length portrait; Millstone collar; Drawing pen; Baroque; Netherlands; Hendrick Blomaert; Henricus Snyers; Jan Meyssens; Gorcum; 17th century; Engraver; Publisher; Inscription; Artist’s biography; 17th century; Baroque; Depiction of Artists; Netherlands; Size: Paper: 16.7 cm x 12.0 cm (6.6 x 4.7 in), Plate: 16.0 cm x 11.2 cm (6.3 x 4.4 in), Depiction: 13.4 cm x 10.4 cm (5.3 x 4.1 in) Condition: In fairly good condition. Slight browning of the paper, a few small water stains; a faint black mark in the lower right-hand corner; three marks in the upper right-hand section: one on the figure’s left eye, two to the right of the figure; The sheet is slightly wavy and creased in the center, at the corners, and along the margins due to mounting; brownish patches along the margins where the adhesive joints show through; backing paper with discoloration at the margins