Portrait of William Dobson

William Dobson|Josias English|William Dobson

1645–49 (?) · Etching · Drawings and Prints

This print represents a native-born painter discovered by Van Dyck, who became Serjeant-Painter to Charles I in 1641, and was styled the “English Tintoretto.” The image derives from a triple portrait (now Duke of Northumberland), where Dobson placed himself between Sir Charles Cotterell and a figure identified as Nicholas Lanier. That painting was made shortly before the artist's early death and the publisher Thomas Rowlett likely intended this etching as a memorial. Josias English, the etcher, also made prints after Francis Cleyn and was employed at the Mortlake tapestry works.

Artist

William Dobson|Josias English|William Dobson

Date

1645–49 (?)

Medium

Etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Morrison Heckscher, 2016