Who painted Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half]?

Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half] was painted by Simon van de Passe in 1621.

Where can I see Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half]?

Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half]?

Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half] is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half]

Simon van de Passe , 1621

Shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset [right half] 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

The work is a 1621 engraving by Simon van de Passe, derived from a silver medal that commemorated the heraldic shield of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset. Only the right half of the shield is presented, rendered in black‑and‑white line work that emphasizes depth and texture.

Subject & Meaning

The depicted half of the shield features a mounted figure in armor brandishing a sword upon a rocky outcrop, juxtaposed with a lion poised on a cloud beneath a crown. These elements convey martial prowess and noble authority, typical of aristocratic heraldry in early‑seventeenth‑century England.

Technique & Style

Van de Passe employed fine incised lines to model light and shadow, creating a three‑dimensional illusion on a flat surface. The surrounding scrollwork and Latin inscription frame the central imagery, reflecting the intricate ornamental conventions of contemporary medallic engraving.

History & Provenance

Originally cut into a silver medal, the image was transferred to paper through the intaglio process, a common method for reproducing medals for wider distribution. The engraving has survived as part of collections documenting the Sackville family’s visual identity.

Context

The early 1620s saw a flourishing of portrait and heraldic medals in England, often commissioned by nobles to assert lineage and status. Simon van de Passe, a Dutch engraver active in England, was a leading figure in translating such metal works into prints for both private and public audiences.