Title page to Holland's "Herwologia"

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Crispijn de Passe I serves as the title page for Henry Holland’s “Herwologia,” a 1620 publication celebrating notable English figures. Created in the early seventeenth century, the print exemplifies the refined detail and precision possible with the engraving technique, in which fine lines are incised into a metal plate to produce crisp, reproducible images. At roughly 10 by 7 inches, the sheet size made it well suited for inclusion in a book while still allowing for intricate ornamental and figurative elements typical of title-page design. De Passe, a member of a prominent ...

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...