Etching, 1640, New Hollstein’s first state (of two), before the later re-working in mezzotint, a remarkably fine and delicate early impression, with some burr on the ruled lines Plate: 15 x 13.7 cm Provenance: Harrods Fine Art, 24 July 1973 Literature: Bartsch 265; cf. Hinterding 2008, no. 194; New Hollstein 182 The sitter’s hat is a Polish kutchma. As such he has often been identified as Nicolaes de Bye (1602/3-1665) who was a councillor to the Polish King – though he looks older than the 38 years de Bye would have been at this time. The detail of the features would certainly suggest a portrait, although this etching, as well as a small number of other etchings of figures in berets or caps may well have been simply intended as tronies. The later re-working in mezzotint was instigated by the collector Hendrik Busserus (1701-1781) and may have been carried out by the artist Pieter Louw (1725-1800)