This is a beautiful etching of the trial of Thomas Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford. It was done by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607 - 1677), a celebrated Czech printmaker. The piece is titled in German “Abbildung der Session des Parlaments zu London über den Sentenz des Grafen von Stafford”. Hollar was born in Prague and died in London; he was known to German speakers as Wenzel Hollar and to Czech speakers as Václav Hollar, and is particularly noted for his engravings and etchings. He produced works prolifically throughout the English Civil War. Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I, then ran into disfavor with Parliament after he offered to bring over the Irish army to subdue the king’s opponents in England. The trial was held in 1641 and Strafford was executed the same year. The engraving is signed on the plate in the lower left, and the overall size is 10 5/16 x 11 3/8 in. wide.