Artwork

Charles II

Charles II, by Unknown 19th Century, ink, 1850
Charles II, by Unknown 19th Century, ink, 1850

Charles II is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Unknown 19th Century. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This black-and-white engraving is a portrait of Charles II, characterized by its focus on the subject's detailed attire and serious expression against a plain background.

Subject & Meaning

The portrayal of Charles II, adorned with a lace collar, ruffled shirt, and medals, indicates his importance, likely signifying royal or noble status.

Technique & Style

The engraving utilizes shading techniques to achieve a near three-dimensional representation of the subject's curly hair and intricate fabric textures, emphasizing depth through line work.

Context

As an engraving, this work exemplifies a traditional printmaking method used to produce detailed, reproducible images, inviting comparison with the engraving technique.

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.