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| 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.
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino St John the Baptist 1637 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Faun and Nymphs 1637 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Cupid 1637 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Cupid with Rabbits 1637 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Embracing Putti 1638 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Soldier and Cupid 1638 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Venus and Cupid 1638 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Woman with Bow 1638 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Woman with Scales 1637 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Woman with Sword 1637 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht the younger after Parmigianino Woman with Vase 1638 etching British Museum |
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| Hendrik van der Borcht after Parmigianino Woman with Wings 1638 etching British Museum |
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| 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.
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Equestrian portrait Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel 1639 etching British Museum |