Artwork
Gerard Mercator
Gerard Mercator is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Frans Hogenberg. It dates from 1574 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The background is a blue oval with Latin text wrapped around it, and the whole image sits on a decorative border with more writing.
This print shows a bearded man in a dark robe and cap, holding a globe in one hand and a small ship model in the other. His face is serious, with a white collar peeking out from under his beard. The background is a blue oval with Latin text wrapped around it, and the whole image sits on a decorative border with more writing.
The man’s globe is marked with what looks like early maps of the world. This print was made in 1574, and the artist’s name is written below the image.
Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Overview
This colored engraving, created in 1574 by Frans Hogenberg, is a portrait of Gerard Mercator. The print features a detailed image surrounded by a decorative border with inscriptions.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Mercator, a bearded man, dressed in a dark robe and cap, holding a globe and a ship model. The globe is adorned with early world maps, reflecting Mercator's work as a cartographer. The serious expression and symbolic objects convey his profession and expertise.
Technique & Style
The print is an engraving, a technique that involves carving designs onto a metal plate to produce detailed images. The level of detail in the portrait, including the globe's markings and the decorative border, demonstrates the artist's skill with this medium.
Artist & collection
