| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Jacobus Houbraken after John Vanderbanck |
| Published | Impensis I & P Knapton Londini 1738. |
| Dimensions | Image 357 x 222 mm, Plate 365 x 230 mm, Sheet 494 x 340 mm |
| Notes |
A half length portrait of Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Alban turned slightly to left but facing the viewer wearing a tall dark hat, lace ruff, and brocade jacket in an architectural oval, fabric draped behind, set on a plinth with books, scrolls and a putto holding a sceptre below This portrait of Francis Bacon 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. Francis Bacon, Viscount St Alban (1561-1626), was a lawyer, philosopher, essayist and scientist, and one of the great intellectual figures of Jacobean England. He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1618, but was impeached for bribery three years later and confessed to 'corruption' and 'neglect'. He spent the rest of his life in retirement, to devote himself to scientific research, which has led him to be regarded as the father of experimental science in this country. He published Essays (1597), the Advancement of Learning (1605), the Novum Organum (1620) and many other works 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.Charles Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot. (1685–1737), a British lawyer and politician. John Vanderbank (1694 - 1739) was a British painter and draughtsman. The son of John Vanderbank, a Soho tapestry-weaver, he ran a drawing academy with Cheron from 1720. O'Donoghue 25, Ver Huell 32 Condition: Excellent |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £90.00 |
| Stock ID | 45054 |