William Faithorne Sir Anthony van Dyck

William Faithorne (active 1616-1662) was a prominent 17th-century English printmaker, often working from the compositions of significant contemporary painters. His notable collaborations include numerous engravings executed after the designs of Sir Anthony van Dyck. The active period of both artists, spanning from 1616 to 1662, places their joint output firmly within the Baroque era of European portraiture.

The verifiable output of their collaboration is represented by eight prints currently held in institutional collections. These works, examples of which are preserved by the National Gallery of Art, highlight Faithorne’s technical proficiency in rendering complex figures and textures established in Van Dyck's original paintings. These high-quality prints served a crucial function in disseminating the images of powerful and notable figures across Europe.

Specific works documented in the collections include engraved portraits such as Frances Bridges, Margaret Smith, and multiple depictions of Mary, Princess of Orange. The continued preservation of these historic William Faithorne Sir Anthony van Dyck prints in major institutions establishes their lasting significance as museum-quality documents of the period. Today, many of these historical images are considered public domain, ensuring broad access to downloadable artwork for researchers and enthusiasts.