VACLAV HOLAR ) ( 1607-77 ) . A celebrated etcher and engraver. He was born at Prague. June 13, 1607, the son of a lawyer, and received a good education. Ile studied engraving under Matthew Marian, a pupil of Rubens and Van Dyck. He was only eighteen when lie published his first works, consisting of the "Virgin," the “Ec•o Ilomo." and some other subjects. Leaving Prague, he began a wandering life through Ger many, taking views of the chief towns and of the most striking scenery of the Danube. Rhine, and other streams. He lived two years at Frank fort, and afterwards in Cologne and Antwerp. At Cologne in 1635 lie fell in with the Earl of Arundel, the English Ambassador to the German Emperor, who attached him to his service. Soon after reaching England with his patron lie was appointed to instruct the Prince of Wales in drawing; and in 1640 published his O•natus .11u liebris ..Inglicanus. a description of the customs of the contemporary Englishwomen, followed in 1643 by Theat•um .11 uliern in, a similar production for the women of the remaining parts of Europe. During the Civil War he enlisted as a Royalist, and in 1645 lie joined Lord Arundel at Antwerp. After Arundel's death he became very poor. He worked by time, fixing tariff at fourpence an hour, which lie marked by a sand-glass. During this period, however, he produced his best work. He retnrned to England in 1652. and worked with the same unflagging industry, and with no more profitable result. ills plates in Dugdale's Mu nasticon and ifistorq of ,paint Paul's and in other works attest his diligence. After the Restoration lie was made designer to the King, and in 1669 be was commissioned by Charles 11. to take plans and perspective drawings of Tangier and its for tifications• in payment for which work he received a very paltry sum. In 1673 lie traveled through Northern England. etching the principal cities
there. He died in great poverty in London, Janu ary 19. 1677.
He left over 2700 plates on a great variety of subjects. They include views of cities. such as Strassburg, Frankfort, Cologne, Oxford. Lin coin, and York, .11bury, Windsor, Tangier. etc.; architcwtural drawings, like Antwerp Cathedral, Saint Georges Chapel, indsur ; 'tomb of Edward IV., Windsor; and other subjects, like “Trial of Archbishop Laud," "Coronation of Charles 11.," "Engagement with the Algerian Pirates," the "Four Seasons." his portraits were largely after Ilolbeill. and especially Van Dyck. Among the best known are those of Charles 1. and his Queen after the latter, and his original engravings of the Duke of York (afterwards James IL), Oliver llobbes, and Lady l*enetia Digby. While most of his work was original. he executed with equal facility engravings after the old mas ters. Some of the best known are an "Ecce Homo," after Titian; "Esther Before Ahasuerus," after Veronese; "Cupid Riding a Lion." after 4;ittlio Romano; and especially a beautiful goblet after a ntegna's pen drawing. There are almost complete collections of his works in the British Museum and in the library of 'Windsor Castle.
lIollar's work unites, in a remarkable fashion, accuracy and the pictorial quality. lie endeav ored lo render detail rather than character; but his technical excellence was unsurpassed in his day. His pr.4)•eSS was peculiar, being mostly done with the etching needle.
Consult: The catalogue of Ilollar's plates by Venue (London, 1759), and by Parthey (Berlin, 1853, supplement 1858). The former contains valuable biographical notices: the latter is an excellent and exhaustive treatise.