A 1650 etching by Wenceslaus Hollar depicting Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus, based on a painting by Palma Vecchio.

This etching by Wenceslaus Hollar, dated 1650, depicts a portrait of Caterina Cornaro, the Queen of Cyprus. Hollar, a prolific Bohemian printmaker who spent much of his career in England, based this work on a painting by Palma Vecchio. The print captures the subject in a half-length pose, resting her hand upon a ledge. Her attire reflects the fashion of the Venetian Renaissance, featuring voluminous sleeves and a decorative belt. Hollar employs a precise etching technique to render the textures of the fabric and the soft contours of the subject's face. The cross-hatching in the background provides a subtle contrast to the figure, drawing the eye toward the subject. The inscription at the base, 'Ritratto della Regina di Cipro Catarina Cornara', identifies the sitter, while the credit 'Palma pinxit' acknowledges the original painter. This work demonstrates Hollar's technical skill in translating the tonal qualities of oil painting into the linear medium of etching. The composition is balanced and restrained, typical of the portraiture conventions of the period. The print serves as a record of the historical interest in the figure of Caterina Cornaro, who was a significant political figure in the late fifteenth century. Hollar's ability to reproduce the likeness and character of the sitter from an existing painting made his prints highly sought after by collectors and scholars of the seventeenth century. This museum-grade reproduction preserves the fine lines and tonal depth of the original copperplate, offering a clear view of Hollar's craftsmanship.