Artwork
William Leybourn, Mathematician
William Leybourn, Mathematician is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert Gaywood. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This etching by Robert Gaywood is a portrait of William Leybourn, created in 1655. The print is a detailed black-and-white representation of Leybourn.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a man with curly hair and a mustache, wearing a ruffled collar and dark clothing adorned with a chain or brooch. The inscription 'Vera Effigies Gulielmi Leybourn' confirms the subject as William Leybourn, a mathematician.
Technique & Style
The etching technique allowed Gaywood to achieve a high level of detail, capturing texture in Leybourn's hair and clothing. The plain background and precise lines contribute to the portrait's formal style.
Artist & collection
Henry Somerset, Earl of Worcester, First Dukeof Beaufort
Barbara Van Beck, the Bearded Lady
William Drummond of Hawthornden, Historian and Poet
John Playford, Musician and Music Publisher
Jeremiah Burroughes, Puritan Divine
Nicholas Claude Fabri de Peireso, French Antiquary
Catherine of Braganza
Guzman de Alfarache
