| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | George Vertue |
| Published | Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini, 1747. |
| Dimensions | Image 352 x 211 mm, Plate 370 x 226 mm, Sheet 490 x 340 mm |
| Notes |
A half length portrait of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury turned slightly to left but looking at the viewer wearing a lace ruff, an Order of the Garter , and a dark brocade jacket, the tip of a sword in his right hand visible, in an architectural oval on pedestal draped with fabric, an anchor, laurel leaves, a dagger, scales, and a mirror with snake. This portrait of Robert Cecil 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. Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury (1563-1612), Statesman. The son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Robert Cecil was Secretary of State (1596-1608), and secured the succession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne. Created Baron, Viscount and Earl in three years (1603-5), he built Hatfield House, and died deeply in debt. George Vertue (1684-1756) was an antiquary and engraver. Vertue had a deep interest in antiquarian research, and much of his work was devoted to this subject. From 1713 onwards, Vertue dedicated his research on details of the history of British art, resultings in extensive notebooks now in the British Library. The contents of which were the basis of Horace Walpole's 1762 Anecdotes of Painting. There are approximately five hundred portraits are attributed to Vertue, an equivalent number of published plates were devoted to antiquarian subjects. Ver Huell 89, O'Donoghue 12 Condition: Excellent |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £100.00 |
| Stock ID | 44755 |