| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Jacobus Houbraken after Cornelius Johnson |
| Published | [c.1737-43] |
| Dimensions | Image 354 x 222 mm, Plate 364 x 228 mm, Sheet 497 x 345 mm |
| Notes |
A half length portrait of George Villiers turned slightly to left but facing the viewer wearing a brocade jacket, ruff, and a George in an architectural oval above a vignette of a man being stabbed. This portrait of George Villiers 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. George Villiers (1592 - 1628) Royal Courtier and close friend of King James I of England. Jacob, or Jacobus, Houbraken (1698-1780) was a Dutch portrait engraver, and dealer and collector of Rembrandt's etchings. Born in Dordrecht, he was the son of the artist Arnold Houbraken. In 1707 he moved to Amsterdam, where he assisted his father on a book of the lives of the Dutch Golden Age artists, entitled De Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718-1721). Between 1743 and 1752, Houbraken worked with George Vertue on Thomas Birch's Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain. He also engraved the portraits for Jan van Gool's Nieuwe schouburg der Nederlantsche kunstschilders (1750-51). Between 1752 and 1759, he worked on Jan Wagenaar's Vaderlandsche historie, which was published by Isaac Tirion. Cornelius Johnson (1593-1661) was a Dutch portrait painter, born to Dutch parents in London. He was active in England, at least from 1618 to 1643.Throughout the 1620s Johnson produced numerous portraits of gentry, professional, and court sitters, including Charles II, James II and Mary, Princess of Orange. In 1643, the civil wars prompted him to leave England. He moved to Middelburg in the Netherlands and between 1646 and 1652 he lived in Amsterdam, before settling in Utrecht. O'Donoghue 1, Ver Huell 34. Condition: Excellent condition with good full margins. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £75.00 |
| Stock ID | 46583 |