Balthasar Gerbier. 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 It only became superseded in the mid-19th century with the advent of photography.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 Paulus Pontius (as here), 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'.

Here the engraver's work is very much in the ascendant, and this impression is the sixth of seven states of the print. Pontius worked closely and extensively for Rubens, and went on to engrave 38 Iconography portraits for van Dyck. This one depicts Sir Balthasar Gerbier (1592-1663), who was an Anglo-Dutch courtier, diplomat, portrait painter and miniaturist, masque designer, architectural designer, military engineer, conspirator, author and father of eight, who found favour - like van Dyck - at the Court of Charles I. The inscription indicates that van Dyck's original portrait dates from 1631, though the engraving post-dates his death ten years later.

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

Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art   September 2018