| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Jacobus Houbraken |
| Published | Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini. 1740. [1743-1752] |
| Dimensions | Image 358 x 233 mm, Plate 373 x 235 mm, Sheet 495 x 335 mm |
| Notes |
A bust length portrait of John Hampden turned slightly to right but facing the viewer and wearing armour and collar, set in an architectural oval with a ribbon above incribed with "Vindex Libertatis", a vignette of a battle scene below with "Ob Patrium Pugnando" inscribed around it, with a scroll inscribed with Magan Carta beside the vignette. This portrait of the John Hampden 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. John Hampden (c. 1595-1643) was a leading political figure in the run up to the English Civil War. He was one of the Five Members of Parliament whose attempted unconstitutional arrest by Charles I sparked the Civil War. 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. Ver Huell 39, O'Donohue 25 Condition: Excellent impression with full margins. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £100.00 |
| Stock ID | 44743 |