Adriaen van Swieten 1579

Hendrick Goltzius's 1579 engraving "Adriaen van Swieten" is a detailed portrait of the sitter, depicted in an oval frame with his coat of arms and age. The engraving shows Adriaen van Swieten at the age of 47, wearing a ruff and a finely detailed, ornate doublet. The artist's signature, "Goltzius fecit," can be seen at the bottom left of the frame, along with the date "Anno 1579." This piece demonstrates Goltzius's mastery of the engraving technique, creating a lifelike depiction of the subject within a small format. The engraved portrait is a prime example of Dutch Mannerism, which emphasized refined detail, elegant linework, and a focus on capturing the sitter's likeness.