Master W with the Key
Illustration — Ship with Sails Furled and Arrow Pointing to the Right (1475–1485). Engraving on paper, 171 x 123 mm. In the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago Master W with the Key also known as Master WA and Master of the Housemark (active c.
Also recorded as Master of the Housemark · Master WA · Master W with Key
Master W with the Key
Master W with the Key · The Cleveland Museum of Art · Dudley P. Allen Fund · CC0
- Nationality
- Southern Netherlands
- Occupation
- painter · artist
- Fields
- marine art
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q2374720 · wikipedia · Master W with the Key
In this article
Biography
Biography
1465–1490) was an anonymous Netherlandish engraver, who is thought to have been a goldsmith in Bruges. The name given to him refers to his monogram, which is a W followed by a key symbol. Eighty-two works signed with that monogram are extant. Many of these are ornament prints, depicting elements of gothic architecture and decorative objects, and were probably marketed mainly as patterns for other craftsmen to follow. He also produced prints of ships, the first known. He influenced several other contemporary Dutch engravers, most notably Master I. M. of Zwolle. He probably worked for Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy, and his ship series may have been "portraits" of the ducal fleet.
Subjects and genres recorded for the work are marine art. Places of work recorded in the authority are Bruges. Work by Master W with the Key is recorded in the collections of Art Institute of Chicago and Cleveland Museum of Art.
An Oak Leaf Ornament, c. 1470, by Master W with the Key
Master W with the Key · The Cleveland Museum of Art · John L. Severance Fund
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1401
Master W with the Key born.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Master W with the Key, revision 1367202458 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Citations
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 31 August 2026.
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