Crispijn van de Passe II

Crispijn van de Passe II was an engraver and printmaker whose documented activity spans the period 1597 through 1652. Working primarily in the seventeenth century, he specialized in the production of highly detailed portrait prints, a major form of historical documentation and visual dissemination during the era.

Eight prints by the artist are documented in museum collections, confirming his importance as a master of the medium. His works are preserved in institutions such as the National Gallery of Art. The documented Crispijn van de Passe II prints reveal a focus on intellectual and political figures, often drawn from English and Continental academic circles.

Notable works held in collections include the portraits Alexander Morus, Elias Taddel, and distinct engraved representations of the philosopher and statesman Sir Francis Bacon. Another celebrated work is the print featuring the poet and soldier Sir Philip Sidney.

The skill and precision demonstrated in these engravings place them as museum-quality examples of early Baroque printmaking. As historical works, many of these images are now in the public domain, allowing institutions and researchers to access and study high-quality prints of his output.