Hollar, Wentzel

Hollar, Wentzel an eminent Bohemian engraver, was born at Prague in 1607, studied at Frankfort under Matthew Merian, and at the age of eighteen published his first plates, an Ecce Homo, and the Virgin and Infant. He made the tour of Germany. At Cologne he formed an acquaintance with the earl of Arundel, who took him into his employment. About this time the civil war broke out, in which Hollar became involved on the side of the royalists, and was made a prisoner by the opposite party in 1645. On obtaining his liberty he went to Flannders, and settled at Antwerp. In 1652 he returned to England, but gained little encouragement. He died March 28, 1677. There are about two thousand four hundred prints by this artist, and some of them possess considerable merit. The following are only a few of his sacred subjects: The Virgin Suckling the Infant Jesus and Caressing St. John; The Holy

Family; The Ecce Homo, .with many figures; The Queen of Sheba Visiting Solomon; The Magdalen in the Desert Kneeling before a Crucifix. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.