Robert van Voerst. From Icones principum virorum ('The Iconography)

The Iconography (Icones principum virorum) is a very large series of portrait prints made after drawings and paintings by the famous Antwerp - and later international - court artist and painter, Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641). Eighteen prints were etched by the artist himself, although the majority are engravings made by a variety of printmakers: van Dyck found painting more profitable than printmaking. This compilation of portraits of princes, politicians, soldiers, statesmen, scholars, art connoisseurs and most importantly artists, a survey of the most distinguished men and women of his time, went through many editions.

At the time of van Dyck's premature death, there were 80 such prints (52 were of artists); in the late 18th century this had grown to over 200. The Iconography proved hugely influential as a commercial model for reproductive printmaking, and influenced portrait painting in turn. It only became superseded in the mid-19th century with the advent of photography.

While the original 18 'icons' are the most prized, especially in their early states, engraving was added by other hands, in many instances commissioned and approved by van Dyck himself and executed by highly skilled practitioners such as Robert van Voerst (as here), Paulus Pontius, Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert and Lucas Vorsterman. Sometimes his work is obscured by them, to the dismay of purist connoisseurs!

In art historical terms, van Dyck's own etchings are greatly admired. He was a brilliant technician, and his 'unfinished but complete' approach, where the heads are fully worked out but the costume and hands unfinished, is remarkably modern. This went on to influence portraitists of later centuries, particularly those who believed in 'bravura' and virtuosity, such as John Singer Sargent and Augustus John. Print expert Arthur Hind wrote: 'Portrait etching had scarcely had an existence before his time, and in his work it suddenly appears at the highest point ever reached in the art'.

The Flemish artist Robert van Voerst (1597-1635/6) portrayed in this print studied engraving under Crispin van de Passe. He first came to England in 1628 and shortly thereafter was appointed royal engraver to Charles I. His continental training and experience placed him far above the native English engravers of the day and thus many of the most important commissions were placed in his hands. His greatest works were his portrait engravings for van Dyck, commissioned when this great artist came to England. These included the famous portrait engravings of Charles I and his Queen, Inigo Jones, Sir George Carew and Philip, Earl of Pembroke. This engraving is from the second state of six, and almost certainly dates from van Dyck's lifetime: unusually the original engraving was executed by the sitter, van Voerst, himself. It is based on van Dyck's original drawing in chalk and wash in the Louvre, Paris.

See:

National Portrait Gallery, 'Robert van Voerst', https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp07684/robert-van-voerst

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_van_Dyck

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art   September 2018