Portret van Thomas More 1572 - 1662

This anonymous engraving, "Portret van Thomas More," depicts the English philosopher and statesman Thomas More. The detailed, finely-wrought lines of the engraving lend a sense of realism to the portrait. More is portrayed wearing a cap and fur-trimmed robe, with a scroll in his hands, perhaps referencing his writings. The inscription beneath the portrait highlights his virtues and intellectual accomplishments, making this a work that likely served a propagandistic purpose. The engraving is a small-scale work measuring just 158mm by 111mm, and is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.