Portrait of David Crinitus z Hlavácova - Jan Balzer

An eighteenth-century etching and engraving by Jan Balzer, depicting the historical figure David Crinitus z Hlavácova within a classical cartouche.

This print is an etching and engraving by the Czech artist Jan Balzer, dated 1772. It depicts David Crinitus z Hlavácova, a figure from the Bohemian Renaissance, presented within a formal, architectural frame. The composition follows the conventions of eighteenth-century portraiture, where the subject is enclosed in an oval cartouche, a common device for commemorative prints of historical figures.

The subject is shown in a bust-length view, wearing a ruff collar characteristic of the late sixteenth century, which contrasts with the refined, linear technique of the engraver. Balzer employs a precise system of hatching and cross-hatching to model the facial features and the texture of the beard, creating a sense of volume and depth. Below the portrait, a stone-like pedestal bears the subject's name in Latinised script, adorned with laurel branches that suggest a classical influence. The inclusion of a coat of arms at the top of the oval frame further reinforces the status of the individual.

Jan Balzer was active in Prague and is known for his contributions to the documentation of historical figures and local topography. This work, based on a drawing by J. Kleinhardt, demonstrates the technical proficiency required for book illustration and print production during the period. The print maintains a clean, balanced aesthetic, typical of the era's interest in historical record and formal clarity. It serves as a clear example of the printmaker's craft, where the collaboration between the draughtsman and the engraver resulted in a durable and widely circulated image. The paper shows the natural ageing expected of an eighteenth-century print, with the ink lines remaining sharp and legible against the neutral background.