William Rogers

William Rogers was an English printmaker active during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with a documented working period spanning from 1589 to 1602. Known exclusively for his graphic output, Rogers specialized in engraved portraits of contemporary figures, nobility, and historical personages. His production dates situate him during the Elizabethan era, a time of significant flourishing in English portraiture and publishing.

Rogers’s body of work primarily consists of detailed, authoritative prints focusing on individuals of political, military, or intellectual prominence. Subjects represented in his extant prints include the powerful statesman William Cecil, First Baron Burghley, the botanist John Gerard, Herbalist, and the soldier Sir Thomas Docwra. His work extended beyond English figures, encompassing European royalty such as Alphonso, King of Castile and Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy.

Fifteen of William Rogers's prints are represented in major museum collections, establishing him as a verifiable figure in early modern printmaking. This group of historically significant William Rogers prints is notably held by the National Gallery of Art. Today, much of this early graphic material is held in the public domain and widely accessible, allowing for the creation of high-quality prints used in academic research and display.