William I, Prince of Orange engraving by Gerard Valck after van der Werff, c. 1680-1720

A late 17th- to early 18th-century Dutch line engraving of William I, Prince of Orange, by Gerard Valck (1652-1726), after a design by Adriaen van der Werff. The portrait sits in an oval medallion bound by a laurel wreath, set beneath an armorial crest, with the title "GUILLAUME PREMIER PRINCE D'ORANGE" and a French verse inscribed on the plinth below.

William I led the revolt against Spanish and Catholic rule that grew into the Eighty Years' War and is remembered as the founder of independent Holland. It's a fitting subject for the commemorative format Valck and van der Werff built around him. The lower margin carries both artists' names in period convention: "Van der Werff invenit" and "Valck sculpsit." Printed on laid paper and presented in an ebonized pie crust molding frame.

The label from the previous frame is affixed to the back and reads:

PRINCE D'ORANGE

Valck, Gerard 1626–1720

Amsterdam–England

Student of Blooteling.

Several of his prints are after Lely and other English masters dating to the 1680's. There is no evidence that Valck visited any other countries after moving to England.

MAKER: Gerard Valck (1652–1726), engraver, after Adriaen van der Werff. Signed in the plate: "Van der Werff invenit" / "Valck sculpsit."

DIMENSIONS: 16-1/2" W x 1-1/2" D x 21-1/4" H

ORIGIN: Holland

PERIOD: 1680–1720

MATERIALS: Laid paper; line engraving; ebonized pie crust molding frame

CONDITION: Paper, frame, and mat in excellent condition. Professionally conserved and mounted with acid-free rag board.

SKU: 1012