| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | George Vertue |
| Published | Impensis J & P.Knapton Londini 1741 |
| Dimensions | Image 345 x 222 mm, Plate 368 x 237 mm, Sheet 493 x 332 mm |
| Notes |
A half length portrait of Edward Sackville 4th Earl of Dorset turned to left but facing the viewer wearing a breastplate, lace collar and a medal on a sash This portrait of Thomas Sackvill is from Thomas Birch's The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain. The portraits featured in the series, which were engraved by Jacob Houbraken and George Vertue, were originally issued from 1737 onwards in portfolios of four portraits. Between 1743 and 1752, the series was published by John and Paul Knapton in London in the form of Birch's The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, and contained biographies alongside the portraits. The number of plates included varied from edition to edition. Although the majority contained 108 plates, some editions contained as many as 120. Houbraken was responsible for producing a large proportion of the portraits, with Vertue only engraving around seven. The ornamental surroundings featured on the plates were engraved prior to the portraits, and were done so by Hubert-François Gravelot. Edward Sackville, Earl of Dorset 4th Earl of Dorset (1591-July 17, 1652) English nobleman, courtier, soldier, and politician. George Vertue (1684-1756) was an antiquary and engraver. He was born in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Vertue was apprenticed to a silver engraver and later to the Flemish engraver Michael Vandergucht. His early work included plates after Kneller, whose academy he attended from 1711. Vertue had a deep interest in antiquarian research, and much of his work was devoted to the subject. He also served as the official engraver to the Society of Antiquaries (1717-56). From 1713 onwards, Vertue dedicated his research to the details of the history of British art, which resulted in an extensive collection of notebooks now in the British Library. The contents of these notebooks were the basis of Horace Walpole's 1762 'Anecdotes of Painting'. There are approximately five hundred portraits attributed to Vertue, and an equivalent number of published plates devoted to antiquarian subjects. O'Donoghue 1, Ver Huell 41, Alexander 827. Condition: Crease down left side. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £55.00 |
| Stock ID | 46586 |