Portrait of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre - Lazarus Gottlieb Sichling

A precise nineteenth-century engraving by Lazarus Gottlieb Sichling depicting Henry IV of France in formal court attire.

This engraving by Lazarus Gottlieb Sichling presents a formal portrait of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre. Sichling, a German engraver active during the mid-nineteenth century, was known for his technical precision in reproducing historical figures for encyclopaedic publications. The work captures the monarch in a traditional pose, wearing the distinctive ruff collar and doublet associated with the late sixteenth-century French court. The cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit is visible on his chest, serving as a marker of his royal status.

The composition relies on the conventions of historical portraiture, utilising a dark, draped background to draw focus to the subject. Sichling employs fine lines and cross-hatching to model the facial features and the texture of the fabric. The engraving technique allows for a subtle range of grey tones, providing a sense of volume to the figure. The inclusion of both Cyrillic and Latin inscriptions below the image suggests its original purpose as a plate for a multi-lingual reference volume, common in the nineteenth-century European print market.

Sichling’s approach is disciplined and objective. He avoids excessive ornamentation, preferring to convey the likeness of the king through clear, controlled mark-making. The portrait reflects the nineteenth-century interest in documenting historical figures with accuracy. By stripping away the colour of a traditional oil painting, the engraving invites the viewer to examine the structure of the face and the specific details of the royal attire. This print is a representative example of the high-quality reproductive engraving produced in Germany during this period, intended for both educational use and private collection.