# DELFF, Willem Jacobsz [View the canonical artist record]() ## Artist - Lifespan: 1580–1638 - Profession: graphic artist - School: Dutch ## Biography Dutch engraver. He was the son of the Delft portrait painter Jacob Willemsz. Delff I, from whom he presumably received his earliest artistic instruction. Because his earliest known work, an engraved portrait of Christianus Goesius \('Bailiff in Delft'; 1600\), was made after a drawing by the Antwerp engraver Johan Wierix, it has sometimes been assumed that Delff studied engraving under this Flemish artist. This, however, is unlikely since the original drawing had been made over 20 years earlier. It is far more probable that Delff was taught engraving by a Dutch artist, possibly Hendrick Goltzius. In the first part of his career Delff devoted himself primarily to producing book illustrations. He also produced portrait prints after the work of such painters as Michiel Jansz. van Miereveld and Jan Anthonisz. van Ravesteyn. ## Related artworks - [Cavalcade of Eleven Princes of Orange-Nassau]() - [Portrait of Charles I]() - [Portrait of Frederick Hendrick, Prince of Orange-Nassau]() - [Portrait of Frederick Hendrick]() - [Portrait of Frederick Hendrick]() - [Portrait of Maria Strick]() - [Portrait of Maurits, Prince of Orange-Nassau]() - [Portrait of Prince Maurits]() - [Portrait of William the Silent \(detail\)]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()