Balthasar Moretus of Antwerp

Cornelis Galle I

National Gallery of Art

The portrait shows an upper-body view of a man seated in profile, facing to the right of the image. He has a refined facial profile with a mustache and a short beard, and his hair is neatly combed and short. He wears a garment with a large, ornate ruffled collar and what appears to be a cloak with visible folds and intricate detailing. The man’s hands are visible, resting on a surface that looks like a stack of books, with some decorative elements visible on the book covers. In the background, a pattern of vertical lines suggests a textured wall that adds depth to the engraving. There is text below the image with information, presumably about the man, including his name and some Latin inscriptions.