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 Prague – 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 Print 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: Signed in the lower part of the printing plate: “A. van Veen pinxit | W. Hollar fecit. | I. Meyssens excudit.” Inscribed in the lower part of the printing plate: “ADRIAEN VAN VENNE.” Date: 17th century Description: A three-quarter-length portrait of Adriaen van de Venne, 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 mustache, 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 emphasize the face and hands. Below the edge of the plate is a multi-line inscription in French containing biographical details and information about the publisher and engraver. This work is believed 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: In fairly good condition. Paper is slightly browned and aged; a few small stains; the sheet is preserved with a wide margin on all sides; the margins show signs of creasing; the sheet is slightly wavy