Artwork

James Shirley

James Shirley, by William Marshall, ink, 1623
James Shirley, by William Marshall, ink, 1623

James Shirley is an ink print by the Renaissance artist William Marshall. It dates from 1623 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The print 'James Shirley' is an engraving created by William Marshall in 1623.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts a solemn man surrounded by foliage, with small figures emerging from the leaves, some of whom are playing musical instruments. A Latin poem at the bottom praises the subject's work, suggesting the print is a tribute to his achievements.

Technique & Style

Marshall employed fine lines and shading to achieve a sense of depth, rendering the leaves with a high level of detail. The use of engraving techniques allowed for the creation of a nuanced, black-and-white image with intricate textures.

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.