Artwork
William Drummond of Hawthornden
William Drummond of Hawthornden is an ink print by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 17th‑century engraving depicts William Drummond of Hawthornden, a Scottish poet and landowner. Rendered in fine cross‑hatching, the print shows Drummond in period dress, his dark hair and moustache clearly defined against a subtly graded background.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait emphasizes Drummond’s status through his dark jacket, white ruffled collar, and a sash across his chest, elements typical of gentlemanly attire of the era. The composition focuses on his face, suggesting a personal, commemorative intent rather than an allegorical narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous line work, the engraving employs dense cross‑hatching to model flesh and fabric, creating a sense of depth and texture. The tonal gradations are achieved solely through variations in line density, a hallmark of skilled printmaking in the early modern period.
Context
Printed during a time when portrait engravings served both as personal mementos and as means of disseminating the likenesses of notable individuals, this work reflects the growing demand for reproducible images of literary and aristocratic figures in the late 1600s.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
