William Herbert, Third Earl of Pembroke

Art Historical Context

This striking engraving portrays William Herbert, the Third Earl of Pembroke, a distinguished English nobleman of the late Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Created by the Flemish printmaker Lucas Vorsterman or his son Lucas Vorsterman II between 1551 and 1600, the work exemplifies the period’s growing interest in reproductive portraiture. Such prints allowed images of important figures to circulate widely among collectors and admirers across Europe. Executed in the demanding medium of engraving, the sheet measures 42.3 by 31.6 centimeters and showcases the precise, linear technique for which the Vorsterman family was renowned. The crisp lines and subtle tonal gradations bring depth and dignity to the sitter’s attire and bearing, transforming a personal likeness into a lasting public statement of status and refinement. Now part of the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, this print offers modern viewers a window into the visual culture of early modern Britain. It reminds us how engravings once served both as works of art and as vehicles for preserving the memory of influential personalities.