A wonderfully detailed and charismatic portrait, this exquisite work illustrates the technical mastery and artistic vision of Van Dyck. Voerst's stately, yet approachable expression reflects Van Dyck's refined ability to comfort and relax his subjects, resulting in a realistic and acute portrait. This piece is intriguing because the subject and the engraver are one and the same, yet the image essentially is still Van Dyck's. Voerst engraves himself through the eyes of Van Dyck, depicted with long hair, high forehead, large nose, thin lips, and a pointy chin. Voerst stands in three quarter profile against a clouded background, grasping a rolled scroll of paper to his chest as he gazes off into the distance.

This portrait is a Mauquoy-Hendrickx State VI (of VI), engraved by R.V. Vorst 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 beneath that in the lower left "R.V. Vorst. fculp." Also marked "cum privilegio" in the lower right of the plate. Beneath the engraved portrait is the inscription: ROBERTVS VAN VOERST | CALCOGRAPHVS LONDINI. 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. 73 on pg. 148.

2) Mauquoy-Hendrickx. L'Iconographie d'Antoine Van Dyck: Catalogue Raisonne II. Bruxelles: Bibliotheque Royale Albert I, 1991. Illustrated as catalogue no. 73 on pg. 47.

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.