Artwork
Richard Sackville, Third Earl of Dorset
Richard Sackville, Third Earl of Dorset is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Simon van de Passe. It dates from 1621 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1621 copper engraving, executed by the Dutch printmaker Simon van de Passe, portrays Richard Sackville, the third Earl of Dorset. The portrait presents the nobleman in a formal stance, his gaze directed outward, while his hands are joined before him. The image is framed by an ornamental border that carries his name and title, set against a darkened background that accentuates the figure.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown in contemporary aristocratic dress: a high, ruffled collar, a richly trimmed doublet with lace‑edged cuffs, and a neatly curled beard. The composed pose and direct stare convey the dignity and authority expected of a peer of the realm, while the elaborate attire signals his social rank and the fashion of early‑17th‑century English nobility.
Technique & Style
Van de Passe employed fine cross‑hatching to render the textures of fabric, hair, and facial features, achieving a high level of detail and tonal variation. The use of dense parallel lines creates depth and a subtle modelling of light, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance print tradition that emphasized precision and intricate surface treatment.
History & Provenance
The engraving entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is currently conserved. Its provenance traces back to early modern England, where such portrait prints served both as commemorative objects and as means of disseminating the likenesses of prominent figures among the aristocracy and their circles.
Artist & collection
