Artwork
Queen
Queen is an ink print by the Baroque artist Wenceslaus Hollar. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1651 by the Czech-born engraver Wenceslaus Hollar, this black‑and‑white etching presents a dramatic tableau of women within an architectural setting.
Created in 1651 by the Czech-born engraver Wenceslaus Hollar, this black‑and‑white etching presents a dramatic tableau of women within an architectural setting. A kneeling figure holds a crown, another extends an arm, and a third gazes upward, while a building with an arch frames the scene. The composition is bordered by a dense allegorical frame featuring Minerva and Hercules, along with various symbolic motifs.
Subject & Meaning
The central group suggests a narrative of coronation or homage, reinforced by the crown in the kneeling woman’s hands. The surrounding border introduces classical symbols—a skull, a broken column, and a winged creature—paired with Latin text that references a biblical verse, indicating a moral or allegorical dimension beyond a simple portrait.
Technique & Style
Hollar employed fine etching lines to achieve sharp detail in both the figures and the intricate border. His characteristic precision in rendering architectural elements and textures is evident in the archway and windowed background, while the densely packed allegorical motifs demonstrate his skill in integrating narrative and decorative elements within a single print.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to Hollar’s English period, during which he produced numerous topographical and architectural prints. Catalogued as Pennington 233B, the piece has been recorded in several print collections and remains an example of Hollar’s practice of combining portraiture with classical allegory in the mid‑seventeenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
