Artwork
Petrus Stevens
Petrus Stevens is an ink print by the Baroque artist Lucas Emil Vorsterman. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the Rosenwald Collection.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1634, this black‑and‑white print presents a portrait of Petrus Stevens. Executed by Lucas Emil Vorsterman, the work combines engraving and etching techniques to render a dignified, seated figure with a solemn demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is depicted with a full beard and neatly swept hair, his hands placed on his chest beneath a high, ruffled collar. The composed pose and serious expression suggest a formal representation, likely intended to convey status and personal gravitas.
Technique & Style
Vorsterman employed fine, closely spaced lines to model the texture of fabric and hair, a hallmark of early 17th‑century printmaking. The image was produced by incising a metal plate and transferring ink onto paper, blending the precision of engraving with the tonal possibilities of etching.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the Dutch Golden Age, a period when portrait prints served both as commemorative images and as means of disseminating the likenesses of notable individuals. No specific ownership record is noted beyond its attribution to Vorsterman.
Context
During the 1630s, Dutch printmakers frequently combined engraving and etching to achieve detailed surface treatment while retaining expressive line work. Vorsterman, active in Amsterdam, contributed to this tradition, producing portraits that balanced realism with the graphic clarity of the medium.
Artist & collection
Artist
etching and engraving by Lucas Vorsterman II, NGA 10762), B1977.14.10539 - Yale etc
