Artwork
Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Renold Elstrack. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
An ornamental legend frames the figure, noting his twenty‑two‑year reign and his death at age forty‑two, and the artist’s monogram appears at the bottom.
Renold Elstrack’s 1598 engraving presents a portrait of Edward IV, King of England. Rendered in black‑and‑white line work, the image shows the monarch in regal attire—crown, fur‑trimmed robe, and a jeweled necklace—while he holds a globe and a scepter. An ornamental legend frames the figure, noting his twenty‑two‑year reign and his death at age forty‑two, and the artist’s monogram appears at the bottom.
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes Edward IV’s sovereign authority through traditional symbols of power: the crown denotes his royal status, the globe suggests dominion, and the scepter reinforces his legislative role. The surrounding lettering, styled in elaborate capitals, reinforces his title and the chronology of his rule, presenting the king as a timeless figure of English monarchy.
Technique & Style
Elstrack employed the intaglio engraving process, incising fine lines into a copper plate before printing onto paper. The work’s crisp hatching creates texture in the fur lining and the intricate details of the jewelry, while cross‑hatching models the folds of the robe. The stark monochrome palette focuses attention on line quality and the precise rendering of regalia.
History & Provenance
Created in the late sixteenth century, the print reflects the period’s interest in commemorating historical monarchs. The artist’s signature, “R. Elstrack,” appears beneath the portrait, confirming authorship. Though the original plate’s whereabouts are undocumented, copies have circulated in collections of early English portraiture, attesting to the work’s continued relevance for scholars of Tudor iconography.
Context
The engraving belongs to a broader tradition of post‑Elizabethan portrait prints that celebrated England’s royal lineage. By 1598, Edward IV’s reign was already part of the nation’s historical narrative, and such images served both educational and propagandistic purposes, reinforcing a sense of continuity in the monarchy.
Artist & collection
