Sir Walter Raleigh

Art Historical Context

This engraving of Sir Walter Raleigh captures the likeness of one of Elizabethan England’s most daring figures—an explorer, courtier, and writer who played a key role in early English colonization efforts in the Americas. Created between 1551 and 1600, the print reflects the growing demand for portable portraits of celebrated individuals during the Renaissance, allowing admirers to own images of notable personalities. The work was produced by Robert Vaughan after an original design by Simon de Passe, a skilled Dutch engraver active in England. Engraving, a precise intaglio technique involving incised lines on a metal plate, allowed for fine detail and multiple impressions, making such portraits widely accessible. At just 13.5 by 7.5 centimeters, this small sheet exemplifies the intimate scale often used for book illustrations or personal keepsakes. Housed in the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, the print offers a window into how 16th-century audiences celebrated explorers like Raleigh, whose adventures helped shape European perceptions of the New World. Its crisp lines and formal pose highlight the period’s blend of artistic craftsmanship and historical storytelling.