Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Parmigianino, Thomas Howard, Hendrik van der Borcht

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Ganymede
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht (1614-1690) was the son of a Flemish painter also named Hendrik van der Borcht. The father introduced the son in 1636 to Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel (1586-1646), traveling on the continent as diplomat for Charles I. Arundel was  along with the King himself  one of the few ambitious art collectors in England. After sending the young artist to Italy as member of an art-buying mission, the Earl took him into his service in London. "Vanderborcht the younger was both painter and engraver; he drew many of the Arundelian curiosities and etched several things both in that and the Royal Collection."  Gathered here is a series of Hendrik van der Borcht's etchings reproducing the contents of an Arundel portfolio filled with drawings by Parmigianino (already dead for a century and enjoying Old Master status). Sets of these prints could be distributed by Lord Arundel for the appreciation of other connoisseurs (and the consequent enhancement of his own prestige). That the drawings in reproduction also became more widely available for the use of artists was an almost-accidental side-effect.

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
St John the Baptist
1637
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Faun and Nymphs
1637
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Cupid
1637
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Cupid with Rabbits
1637
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Embracing Putti
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Soldier and Cupid
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Venus and Cupid
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Woman with Bow
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Woman with Scales
1637
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Woman with Sword
1637
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino
Woman with Vase
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht after Parmigianino
Woman with Wings
1638
etching
British Museum

Hendrik van der Borcht after Parmigianino
Woman with Wreath
1637
etching
British Museum

In this same period, Lord Arundel also recruited and brought into England Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677), born in Bohemia and chiefly known as a sculptor. Hollar's engraved portrait of his patron in military guise appears below.

Wenceslaus Hollar
Equestrian portrait Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel
1639
etching
British Museum