Robert Boissard

Robert Boissard was a printmaker active during the sixteenth century, documented primarily between 1500 and 1601. Although precise biographical details outside of his period of activity are limited, the survival of his output confirms his role in producing illustrative and portrait prints during the late Renaissance era.

Boissard’s documented works encompass allegorical compositions and historical portraiture. Notable examples represented in institutional collections include the complex allegory Time Rewarding Work and Punishing Laziness, alongside portraits of prominent naval and military figures such as Sir John Hawkins, Naval Commander, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, and Christopher Carleill.

Thirteen of Robert Boissard’s prints are currently held in significant American museum collections, establishing the historical value and integrity of his work. These institutions include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Given the antiquity of his production, many of these Boissard prints are today available for study and viewing as downloadable artwork in the public domain, offering broad access to these historical documents.