Matthias de l'Obel

Art Historical Context

Created in 1615 by engraver Francis Delaram, this intimate portrait of Matthias de l’Obel measures only 12.7 by 17.8 centimeters. The work exemplifies the engraving technique, in which the artist incises fine lines into a metal plate to hold ink, allowing numerous crisp impressions to be pulled from a single plate. Such prints offered an economical yet refined way to record likenesses during the early seventeenth century. Engravings played an important role in circulating images of notable figures across Europe. Delaram’s careful line work captures subtle details of costume and expression within a compact format, demonstrating how the medium balanced artistic precision with practical reproduction. Now part of the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art, the print invites viewers to appreciate both the technical mastery of engraving and its historical value as a vehicle for preserving individual portraits.

About the Artist

Francis Delaram · 1590–1627

Francis Delaram (c. 1590–1627) was a prolific English engraver active in London during the early Jacobean era, producing several hundred plates that captured the likenesses of monarchs, nobles, and scholars. Flourishing from around 1615, he specialized in line engravings for portraits, title pages, and book illustrations, often working after prominent painters. His output contributed significantly...