Thomas Cavendish
published 1598
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 13.4 × 9.7 cm (5 1/4 × 3 13/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.14.270
Art Historical Context
**Thomas Cavendish**, a finely detailed engraving by Flemish-Dutch artist Crispijn de Passe I captures the likeness of the renowned English explorer and privateer (1555–1592). Published 1598, this portrait measures just 13.4 × 9.7 cm, typical of small-scale prints designed for wide dissemination in books or collections during the late Elizabethan era. De Passe, a master engraver from a prominent family of printmakers, renders Cavendish with precise line work, emphasizing his stern gaze and period attire to evoke authority and adventure. Cavendish holds a pivotal place in maritime history as t...
About the Artist
Crispijn de Passe I
Crispijn de Passe I, born around 1564 in Arnemuiden, Zeeland, emerged as one of the most influential Dutch engravers and print publishers of his era. He relocated to Antwerp as a youth, where he honed his craft amid the city's vibrant printmaking scene, becoming an independent master in the Guild of Saint Luke by 1584–1585. There, he worked as a reproductive engraver, primarily after designs by pr...