A wonderfully detailed and charismatic portrait, this exquisite work illustrates the technical mastery and artistic vision of Van Dyck. Theodorus Galle's stately, yet approachable expression reflects Van Dyck''s refined ability to comfort and relax his subjects, resulting in a realistic and acute portrait. Vorsterman depicts Galle in a three quarter view against a simple background. He utilizes strong contrasting vertical and horizontal lines and bold tonal contrasts to convey a sense of depth and perspective within this work. Galle gazes boldly out at the viewer yet remains somewhat mysterious, as he clutches something in his left arm, secretively holding it to his chest.

This portrait is a Mauquoy-Hendrickx State IV (of VI) before the Giles Hendrickx edition, engraved by Lucas Vorsterman (Zaltbommel, 1595 - Antwerp, 1675) after a sketch by 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 pinxcit," and beneath that "Vorsterman fculp" and in the lower right of the plate "Cum privilegio." Beneath the engraved portrait is the inscription: THEODORVS GALLE | CALCOGRAPHVS ANTERVERPIAE.

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. 81 on pg. 153.

2) Mauquoy-Hendrickx. L'Iconographie d'Antoine Van Dyck: Catalogue Raisonne II. Bruxelles: Bibliotheque Royale Albert I, 1991. Illustrated as catalogue no. 81 on pg. 52.

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.