Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641)

• Was a Flemish Baroque painter.
• Probably during his period in Antwerp after his return from Italy, van Dyck began his Iconographie, which became a very large series of prints with half-length portraits of eminent contemporaries.
• He produced drawings, and for eighteen of the portraits he himself etched the heads and main outlines of the figure, for an engraver to work up.
• He left most of the printmaking to specialists, who engraved after his drawings.

• His etched plates appear not to have been published until after his death, and early states are very rare.

• Most of his plates were printed after only his work had been done.

• Some exist in further states after engraving had been added, sometimes obscuring his etching.

• He continued to add to the series until at least his departure for England, and presumably added Inigo Jones whilst in London.

• Next