Artwork

Title Page for Le Voyage Dv Prince Don Fernande Infant d'Espange, Cardinal

Title Page for Le Voyage Dv Prince Don Fernande Infant d'Espange, Cardinal is an ink print by the Baroque artist Ignatius Cornelis Marinus. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a title page illustration for the publication *Le Voyage du Prince Don Fernande, Infant d’Espagne, Cardinal*.

About this work

Overview

The work is a title page illustration for the publication *Le Voyage du Prince Don Fernande, Infant d’Espagne, Cardinal*. Executed as an engraving on laid paper in 1635, it bears the signature of Ignatius Cornelis Marinus. The composition is rendered in monochrome, featuring ornamental framing, a central coat of arms, and two standing figures that flank the printed title.

Subject & Meaning

The page announces a narrative concerning the travels of Prince Don Fernande, a Spanish infante who later became a cardinal. The two robed figures, positioned symmetrically on either side of the coat of arms, likely serve as allegorical guardians or heraldic supporters, reinforcing the noble status of the subject and the ceremonial nature of the journey.

Technique & Style

Marinus employed fine, closely spaced lines to model the drapery of the figures and to suggest depth through cross‑hatching. The engraving demonstrates the period’s skill in translating intricate decorative motifs—such as the swirling arabesques surrounding the composition—into the tactile medium of incised metal, a demanding process for early‑17th‑century printmakers.

History & Provenance

Created in 1635, the title page was part of a limited edition volume documenting the prince’s expedition. While the original book is now dispersed among rare‑book collections, the engraving itself survives as a single‑sheet impression, attributed to Marinus, a Dutch engraver active in the early Baroque era.

Context

The early 1600s saw a rise in illustrated travel accounts, often commissioned by aristocratic patrons to celebrate diplomatic or pilgrimage journeys. This title page reflects that trend, combining heraldic imagery with decorative baroque elements to convey both the political importance and the cultural sophistication of the voyage.