Tomb of Henry VII (from Francis Sandford, "Genealogical History of the Kings of England,"1677) 1665

Wenceslaus Hollar created this print of the Tomb of Henry VII in 1677 for Francis Sandford’s "Genealogical History of the Kings of England." The composition immediately strikes us with its relentless detail and rigid symmetry. Hollar uses etching to create a dense, almost overwhelming visual texture. Note how the linear precision emphasizes the tomb's architectural elements, from the pointed arches to the statues. The print invites us to think about the relationship between representation and power. The tomb, a symbol of royal authority, is meticulously rendered, yet the flatness of the print medium somewhat undermines its imposing presence. This tension destabilizes the very notion of permanence and grandeur that the monument seeks to embody. The work reflects the broader seventeenth-century preoccupation with order and classification. The etching’s lines and geometric forms mirror the era’s drive to codify knowledge. Hollar's print becomes not just a depiction but also an interpretation of power through form. The meaning here arises from the intricate interplay between the subject and its formal representation.