Artwork

William Dobson, Portrait Painter

William Dobson, Portrait Painter, by Josias English, ink, 1674
William Dobson, Portrait Painter, by Josias English, ink, 1674

William Dobson, Portrait Painter is an ink print by the Baroque artist Josias English. It dates from 1674 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This print is an engraved portrait of William Dobson, a portrait painter.

About this work

Overview

This print is an engraved portrait of William Dobson, a portrait painter. Created by Josias English in 1674, it is a black-and-white representation of Dobson.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a man with a serious expression, curly hair, and a beard, wearing a ruffled collar. The oval border and textured background frame the subject, emphasizing his strong facial features.

Technique & Style

The engraving employs fine lines and shading to convey depth, with a focus on the subject's face and attire. As an engraving, the image was etched into metal and then printed, showcasing the artist's skill in creating detailed works through this labor-intensive process.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.