| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Jacobus Houbraken |
| Published | Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini, 1743. [1743-1752] |
| Dimensions | Image 361 x 226 mm, Plate 377 x 240 mm, Sheet 494 x 343 mm |
| Notes |
A bust length portrait of William Waynfleet wearing an alb and a mitre in an architectural oval with his arms below in an oval. The inscription below title reads: 'From a Picture at Magdalen College, Oxford.' This portrait of William Waynfleet 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. William Waynflete (1398–1486), or Waynfleet, was Bishop of Winchester from 1447 to 1486, and Lord Chancellor of England from 1456 to 1460. He was also the founder of Magdalen College and Magdalen College School in Oxford. The founder's statutes included provision for a choral foundation of men and boys (a tradition that has continued to the present day) and made reference to the pronunciation of the name of the College in English. 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 Heull 3, O'Donoghue 1 Condition: Excellent impression with good full margins, slight creasing to edges. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £75.00 |
| Stock ID | 44738 |