A wonderfully detailed and charismatic portrait, this exquisite work illustrates the technical mastery and artistic vision of van Dyck. Snellinx's stately, yet approachable expression reflects van Dyck's refined ability to comfort and relax his subjects, resulting in a realistic and acute portrait. Van Dyck depicts Snellinx in three-quarter profile against a simple background of trees and utilizes strong horizontal lines and bold tonal contrasts to convey the exquisite folds in Snellinx's garment. Snellinx stands with one arm upon his chest, regally gazing off into the distance, a man of power.

Originally created c. 1641, this portrait had become part of a series of 84 engraved portraits of famous people at the time created by van Dyck in hopes of compiling his work in a published portfolio entitled "Iconographie." The plate has also been marked in the lower left of the plate "Ant. Van Dyck fecit aqua forti." Beneath the engraved portrait is the inscription: Joannes Snellinx Pictor | Humanarum figurarum in Aulæis et tapetibus Antuerpiæ.

DOCUMENTED AND ILLUSTRATED IN:

1) Newbolt, Frank. Etchings of Van Dyck, Ballantyne Press: London. Listed as cat. no. 27 on pg. 20 and illustrated as plate XXVII.

2) Hind, Arthur. Van Dyck: His Original Etchings and His Iconography, Houghton Mifflin: New York, 1915. Listed on pg. 102 as W.10; D.10 and illustrated on pg. 91.

3) A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:
Conservation framed with museum quality archival materials, this work is mounted in a Spanish-style black and gold moulding whose intricately carved fleur-de-lys accents compliment van Dyck's engraved mastery. The refined gold leaf details with subtle hints of red and black highlights the shadows and remarkable details within this work. Completed with white, silk-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas cover.