Description:A wonderfully detailed and charismatic portrait, this exquisite work illustrates the technical mastery and artistic vision of van Dyck. Du Pont's stately, yet approachable expression reflects van Dyck's refined ability to comfort and relax his subjects, resulting in a realistic and acute portrait.
Originally created in 1641, this portrait had become part of a series of 84 engraved portraits of famous people at the time created by van Dyck in hopes of compiling his work in a published portfolio entitled "Iconographie." The plate has also been marked in the lower left of the plate "Ant. Van Dyck fecit aqua forti." Beneath the engraved portrait is the inscription: PAULUS DU PONT CALCOGRAPHVS | ANTVERPIÆ.
Born in Antwerp in 1603, Paulus Du Pont (or Paulus Pontius) was also a well-known engraver of his time, studying under Lucas Vorsterman (also featured in Van Dycke's "Iconographie") . Paulus created several engravings for Van Dycke, thus it was only appropriate for the artist to feature Paulus' esteemed portrait in his portfolio. Paulus was granted Master of the Antwerp Guild in 1626.
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that I will enclose with the sale of the work) :
1) Newbolt, Frank. Etchings of Van Dyck, Ballantyne Press: London. Listed as cat. no. 13 on pg. 18 and illustrated as plate XIII.
2) Hind, Arthur. Van Dyck: His Original Etchings and His Iconography, Houghton Mifflin: New York, 1915. Listed on pg. 102 as W.9; D.9 and illustrated on pg. 66.
About the Framing:
Conservation framed with museum quality archival materials, this work is mounted in a Spanish-style black and gold moulding whose intricately carved fleur-de-lys accents compliment van Dyck's engraved mastery. The refined gold leaf details with subtle hints of red and black highlights the shadows and remarkable details within this work. Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas cover.
