Wenceslaus Hollar

A cheerful person, Hollar was regarded with affection

by those who knew him. The English writer John Aubrey

noted that he was ‘a very friendly [and] good-natured

man as could be’.

For our inspection, the slightly cautious Hollar presents

an example of his work: an etched plate of St Catherine

after a painting by Raphael from the Earl of Arundel’s

collection. On the table we see his printmaker’s

tools, including etching needles and a bottle of acid.

Hollar proudly advertises his artistic attainments while

also highlighting his status as a gentleman through

the inclusion of his coat of arms (upper left). This

self-portrait was etched for a series of 100 prints

published by Johannes Meyssens in Antwerp which

commemorated well-known figures of that time.

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