Anonymous Artist; Simon van de Passe

The artist known as Anonymous Artist; Simon van de Passe was active circa 1595, a period marked by significant activity in European engraving and printmaking. Although the specific identity of the anonymous figure remains challenging to ascertain, the attribution suggests a collaboration or close relationship with the Dutch-born printmaker and draftsman Simon van de Passe.

The known output attributed to Anonymous Artist; Simon van de Passe consists exclusively of prints, with nine such works currently represented in museum collections. These works, documenting prominent figures of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, confirm the artist’s involvement in English or Continental portrait engraving.

Works attributed to Anonymous Artist; Simon van de Passe are held in institutional collections, including the National Gallery of Art. Specific documented subjects held in these collections include the portraits of Anne Bill, multiple impressions of Sir Thomas Overbury, and multiple impressions related to Sir Walter Raleigh. These high-quality prints serve as important historical records of key individuals from the era.

As historical artifacts documenting a crucial period in European history and art, many of the surviving Anonymous Artist; Simon van de Passe prints are now considered public domain material, allowing for scholarly examination and widespread dissemination as downloadable artwork.