Artist: Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), painter, the pupil of Rubens; in Italy (1621-26) then from 1632 mainly in England where he was knighted by Charles I.
Engraver: Lucas Vorsterman I (1595-1675), engraver, etcher, draughtsman, and publisher, the finest in Rubens school; broke with Rubens mid-1622 and left the latter's studio after a row. Came to London in 1624, returned to Antwerp via Paris in 1630, and went blind in the 1650s.
Title: Gerard Seghers (1591 – 1651) was a Flemish painter, art collector, and art dealer. After a period of study and residence in Italy, he returned to Flanders where he became one of the leading representatives of the Flemish Caravaggisti movement.
Signed, Numbered, Titled, and Dated: Ant van Dyck pinxit; M: vanden Enden exc. D. Gerardo Seghers Pictori Antverpiano / Quod Tabulis Sacris Pietatem Viuam veramque spirantibus tota Europa vulgatis, / apud Principes, Reges, Caesares plausum et donatiua meruit : / Quod, liberorum bene educatorum copia, quod, nouæ domus admiranda architectura, / Palriam auxit, ornauit: amicitiæ ergo. L. Vorsterman L.M.D.C.Q. Numbered on the right of the lower margin in graphite: "41".
Dimensions: Sheet 9 3/8" x 6 1/8".
Publisher: Maarten van den Enden (Dutch, 1605-1673) print publisher. In 1630 he became a member of the Guild of Antwerp. The first publisher of Van Dyck's Iconography. He was an important figure in Antwerp until the mid-1650s.
Date: 1645-1655.
Materials and Techniques: engraving on laid paper.
Watermark: yes.
Mat and Frame: Matted (removable).
Provenance: The Estate of George "Yorgo" Demetrakopoulos; professor, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, and assistant to the dean at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 1965-2000.
Condition: laid down. Trimmed. The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Part of: Icones Principum Virorum.
Museums and Libraries: The British Museum 1856,0913.301.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: Flemish School XVII C.
Note: This entry incorporates text from Wikipedia and the catalog entry of the same item from The British Museum collection.