Artwork
King Edward IV
King Edward IV 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
Renold Elstrack’s 1598 engraving presents a portrait of King Edward IV. Rendered in black ink on paper, the image shows the monarch in regal attire, crowned and holding traditional symbols of authority. The composition is set against a dark, textured background that emphasizes the figure’s solemn gaze and the fine linear work characteristic of late‑sixteenth‑century printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Edward IV of England, who reigned from 1461 to 1470 and again from 1471 to 1483. By depicting the king with a crown, scepter and orb, Elstrack underscores the sovereign’s temporal and divine right to rule, while the serious expression conveys the gravitas associated with royal authority during the turbulent Wars of the Roses.
Technique & Style
Such meticulous incising reflects the high level of craftsmanship typical of English printmakers at the close of the Tudor period.
Elstrack employs cross‑hatching and delicate line work to model the king’s facial features, hair, and fur‑trimmed robe, creating a sense of volume within the flat medium of engraving. The dark background is achieved through dense stippling, allowing the illuminated figure to stand out. Such meticulous incising reflects the high level of craftsmanship typical of English printmakers at the close of the Tudor period.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It entered the museum through acquisition in the twentieth century, joining a broader assemblage of early modern English prints that document the visual culture of the Tudor and early Stuart eras.
Artist & collection
