Attributed to Willem Jacobsz. Delff (Delft 1580-1638)

In 1619 Delff published an engraved portrait of the Delft based calligrapher, publisher and teacher Felix van Sambix (1553-1642) (Fig. 1), for which the present drawing would seem to be a preparatory study. The engraving closely follows the drawing, apart from the characteristic border that Delff added in the engraving. According to the inscription on the engraving, Delff based it on a painting by Michiel van Mierevelt (1566-1641) (which is presently unknown).

Van Mierevelt was the most important portrait painter in Holland of his time, receiving commissions from the Dutch nobility as well as from foreign diplomats and travellers, mainly from England. Together with his studio van Mierevelt produced several thousand paintings (R. Ekkart et al., De portretfabriek van Michiel van Mierevelt (1566-1641), exhib. cat., Delft, Museum Het Prinsenhof, 2011, p. 10). To serve a wider clientele, and to generate additional income, van Mierevelt had his paintings engraved from the moment he became court painter to the stadtholder in 1607. The artist worked with printmakers such as Jan Harmensz. Muller (1571-1628), Andries Jacobsz. Stock (circa 1572-after 1648) and Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert (circa 1580-1633) until 1617 when it became clear that Delff was to become his son-in-law. From that moment, until Delff's death in 1638, van Mierevelt's portraits were exclusively engraved by Delff, who produced a total of 55 engravings after van Mierevelt's paintings.

Fig. 1. Willem Jacobsz. Delff, Portrait of Felix van Sambix, engraving.