Bust of a Bearded Man (Doge Giovanni Cornaro)

1632–36

after Peter Paul Rubens

(Flemish, 1577–1640)

Culture

Flanders

Medium

chiaroscuro woodcut

Measurements

Sheet: 28.3 x 21.3 cm (11 1/8 x 8 3/8 in.)

Credit Line

The Charlotte Ekker and Charlotte Van der Veer Memorial Fund 1996.249

Catalogue raisonné

Hollstein vol. IX, p. 192, no. 20

State

I/II

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Location

Not on view

Description

Among the finest chiaroscuros of the 17th century are those of Jegher, a professional woodcutter who made prints after designs by Peter Paul Rubens from about 1632 until 1640. Although Rubens had employed engravers to reproduce and propagate his designs from about 1609, he did not utilize woodcut until later. Jegher produced nine woodcuts, including two chiaroscuros, after his images. Bust of a Bearded Man, based on a painting, is printed from four blocks, none of which alone produces the outline of the entire image. The resulting print is very painterly and a masterpiece in chiaroscuro.