A wonderfully detailed and charismatic portrait, this exquisite work illustrates the technical mastery and artistic vision of Van Dyck. Simons' stately yet approachable expression reflects Van Dyck's refined ability to comfort and relax his subjects, resulting in a realistic and acute portrait. Simons was a known painter during Van Dyck's time. He is shown here as a man of sharp intellect, with intelligent eyes, parted hair, thin face, and pointed beard and moustache. He stands in a slightly varied position from others in the series, pointing with two fingers rather than one as he rests his hand upon his winding garment, gazing nobly off into the distance.

This portrait is a Mauquoy-Hendrickx State III (of IV) engraved by Pieter de Jode (Antwerp, 1606 - Antwerp, 1674) in collaboration with Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp, 1559 - London, 1641) as part of his Iconographie series of engraved portraits of famous people at the time. The plate has been marked in the lower left of the plate "Ant. van Dyck pinxit" and marked 'Pet. De Iode fculp" in the lower right of the plate. Beneath the engraved portrait is the inscription: QVINTINVS SIMONS. | BRVXELLENSIS PICTOR HISTORIARVM. This piece is printed on a fine paper with a partial Foolscap with Seven Pointed Collar watermark (Mauquoy-Hendrickx no. 135), dating the piece to c. 1675.

DOCUMENTED AND ILLUSTRATED IN:

1) Mauquoy-Hendrickx. L'Iconographie d'Antoine Van Dyck: Catalogue Raisonne I. Bruxelles: Bibliotheque Royale Albert I, 1991. Listed as catalogue no. 174 on pg. 204.

2) Mauquoy-Hendrickx. L'Iconographie d'Antoine Van Dyck: Catalogue Raisonne II. Bruxelles: Bibliotheque Royale Albert I, 1991. Illustrated as catalogue no. 174 on pg. 109.

3) A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

ABOUT THE FRAMING:
Framed to archival museum grade conservation standards, this piece is framed in a complementary moulding with silk mats and optical grade Plexiglas.