| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Jacobus Houbraken after Anthony van Dyck |
| Published | Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini 1740. [1743-1752] |
| Dimensions | Image 360 x 227 mm, Plate 370 x 233 mm, Sheet 494 x 338 mm |
| Notes |
A bust length portrait of James Graham, Marquess of Montrose, turned slightly left but facing the viewer wearinga suit of armour a white collar, and a skullcap in an architectural oval on a pedestal with an inset vignette of a battle scene. This portrait of James Graham 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. James Graham, Marquess of Montrose (1612- May 21, 1650) Scottish nobleman and orginally a Covenanter but subsequently joined the forces of King Charles I. He was executed in 1650. 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. Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) was a Flemish painter. A pupil of Rubens, Van Dyke worked in Italy from 1621-26, and then from 1632 onwards he predominantly painted in England, where he was knighted by Charles I. Ver Heull 45, O'Donoghue 5 Condition: Excellent early impression with some light overall time toning to sheet. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £100.00 |
| Stock ID | 44818 |