Portrait of William Dobson

1645–49 (?)

Not on view

This print represents a native-born painter discovered by Van Dyck, who became Serjeant-Painter to Charles I in 1641, and was styled the “English Tintoretto.” The image derives from a triple portrait (now Duke of Northumberland), where Dobson placed himself between Sir Charles Cotterell and a figure identified as Nicholas Lanier. That painting was made shortly before the artist's early death and the publisher Thomas Rowlett likely intended this etching as a memorial. Josias English, the etcher, also made prints after Francis Cleyn and was employed at the Mortlake tapestry works.

Artwork Details

Title: Portrait of William Dobson
Etcher: Josias English (British, active from 1649, died 1705)
Artist: After William Dobson (British, London 1611–1646 London)
Sitter: William Dobson (British, London 1611–1646 London)
Date: 1645–49 (?)
Medium: Etching
Dimensions: Sheet: 8 9/16 × 6 13/16 in. (21.8 × 17.3 cm) [cropped within plate mark]
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Morrison Heckscher, 2016
Object Number: 2016.708.1
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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