Henry IV and Maria de Medici
1551 to 1600
Medium
engraving pulled from silver medal engraved by the artist
Dimensions
plate: 6.2 × 5.2 cm (2 7/16 × 2 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.9294
Art Historical Context
This delicate engraving, titled *Henry IV and Maria de Medici was created by the Dutch artist Simon de Passe between 1551 and 1600. Measuring just 6.2 × 5.2 cm, it reproduces a silver medal meticulously engraved by the artist himself, showcasing his skill in miniature portraiture. Housed in the National Gallery Art's Rosenwald CollectionDepartment CG-E), this print exemplifies the era's fascination with portable, reproducible royal imagery. Henry IV, King of France from 1589 to 1610, and his queen consort Maria de Medici represent a pivotal moment in European history. Henry, a former Protesta...
About the Artist
Simon de Passe · 1590–1647
Simon de Passe (c. 1595–1647), born in Cologne to the renowned Dutch engraver and publisher Crispijn van de Passe the Elder and his wife Magdalene, grew up in a family dynasty of printmakers who had fled Antwerp due to religious persecution as Anabaptists. The second son among five siblings—four of whom became engravers, including brothers Crispijn II and Willem, and sister Magdalena—he trained un...