Artwork
William Camden
William Camden is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert White. It dates from 1691 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Around his head is a round frame with a crown on top, and below him is a coat of arms with a shield and some symbols.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a full white beard and curly hair. He’s wearing a dark robe with a high collar and looks straight ahead. Around his head is a round frame with a crown on top, and below him is a coat of arms with a shield and some symbols.
The name at the bottom reads *Gulielmus Camdenus Clarentius*, and the date says 1691. The artist’s signature, *R. White fecit*, is in the corner.
This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists etch lines into metal plates.
Overview
This 1691 engraving is a formal portrait of William Camden, an English antiquary and historian. Created by Robert White, it exemplifies late 17th-century English portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Camden with a full white beard and curly hair, wearing a dark robe. A coat of arms and Latin inscription identify the subject as 'Gulielmus Camdenus Clarentius', Camden's Latinized name.
Technique & Style
The work is an engraving, a technique involving etched lines on metal plates. White's style emphasizes clarity and individual likeness, characteristic of his training under David Loggan and his work as a leading portrait engraver.
History & Provenance
Robert White created the engraving in 1691, signing it 'R. White fecit'. White died in 1703 in reduced circumstances, marking the end of a notable career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert White (1645 – 1703) was an English draughtsman and engraver. A Londoner, he was a pupil of David Loggan, and became a leading portrait engraver. White was celebrated for his original portraits, drawn in pencil on…
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