Hollar's portrait of an African boy
By HOLLAR, W[enceslaus] , 1645
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[Print of an African boy, no shading]

Art & Architecture
  • Author: HOLLAR, W[enceslaus]
  • Publication place: [Antwerp]
  • Publication date: 1645.
  • Physical description: Etched print.
  • Dimensions: 70 by 57mm. (2.75 by 2.25 inches). Plate size: 62 by 47mm.
  • Inventory reference: 18281

Notes

In 1645, after his escape from the Parliamentary forces that had captured him as part of the Royalist regiment and his return to Antwerp, Hollar published a number of portraits, the most remarkable of which show three diasporic African people. The present image shows an African boy in profile wearing a broad white collar, set in an oval frame; it is much the same as another portrait produced by Hollar at this time, but much of the facial detail lacks shading. Unfortunately almost all the subjects of Hollar’s portraits remain anonymous.

Bibliography

  1. Pennington 2004.
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