Artwork
Christian IV, King of Denmark
Christian IV, King of Denmark is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Crispijn van de Passe I. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Crispijn van de Passe I produced an engraved portrait of Christian IV, King of Denmark, in 1601. Executed as a black‑and‑white print, the image presents the monarch in a formal pose, emphasizing his regal bearing through precise line work.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is depicted with a full beard and a ruffled collar, his gaze directed forward, conveying authority. A surrounding banner bears Latin inscriptions that enumerate his royal titles, reinforcing his status and political reach.
Technique & Style
Van de Passe employed fine, intersecting lines to model the folds of the clothing and the contours of the face, a method known as cross‑hatching. This technique creates subtle gradations of shadow, lending the portrait a sense of three‑dimensionality despite its monochrome medium.
Context
Created at the beginning of the 17th century, the engraving reflects the era’s interest in disseminating royal imagery through prints. Such portraits served both as propaganda and as a means of familiarising distant audiences with the appearance of sovereigns.
Artist & collection
Artist
Crispijn van de Passe I (1564–1637) was an artist, born in Arnemuiden.
Sir Dudley Carleton, Viscount Dorchester
Ferdinand II, Roman Emperor
William, Earl of Pembroke
Philip Cluver, Geographer
Albert VII, Archduke of Austria
William I, Prince of Orange
Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick, Bishop of Halberstadt
Sigismund III, King of Poland and Sweden
Frederick of Bohemia
Rumoldus Hogerbeets Hornanus