Edward VI
published 1630
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
plate: 11.3 × 8.3 cm (4 7/16 × 3 1/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1951.11.337
Art Historical Context
This engraving by Thomas Cecil presents a portrait of Edward VI, the young son of Henry VIII who ruled England from 1547 to 1553. Published in 1630—nearly eight decades after the king’s death—the print reflects the enduring interest in Tudor royalty during the early Stuart period. Cecil, working in the tradition of English line engraving, used precise incisions on a copper plate to create a compact image measuring just 11.3 by 8.3 centimeters, a format well suited for inclusion in books or private collections. Engraving as a medium allowed such portraits to circulate widely, transforming roya...