print
- Museum number
- 1848,0911.569
- Title
- Object: Henricus II Dei Gratia Navarrae Rex...
- Description
-
Portrait of Henri of Navarre (the future Henri IV), bust-length, turned to left, wearing ruff, cloak, doublet and bejewelled baldric; copy of a plate engraved by Theodor de Bry after François Bunel; first state, before inscription added on either side of the sitter's head. 1589
Engraving
- Production date
- 1589
- Dimensions
-
Height: 250 millimetres
-
Width: 185
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Formerly attributed to Hieronymus Wierix on the evidence of the HW monogram; however the attribution is rejected by the Hollstein Wierix catalogue (R.48), which suggests that the monogram might stand for Heinrich Wirrich.
This is a copy of a print engraved in 1589 by Theodor de Bry after François Bunel (1848,0911.571). There is a later state (1848,0911.573) where an inscription was added on either side of Henri's head. This indicate that the plate was originally engraved before Henri's accession to the French throne (2 August 1589). Indeed the inscription in the upper section of the plate only mentions his title of King of Navarre, while the added inscription framing his head adds that of King of France.
The fact that the impression on either side of the head was a later addition was suggested by Mauroy-Hendrickx 'without any proof' according to the Hollstein catalogue, which does not record this state.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1848
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1848,0911.569