Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

Jacobus Houbraken
18th C. Portrait of William Harvey, MD: 17th C. Circulatory System Discoveries

1739

$675
£505.60
€584.45
CA$947.91
A$1,032.43
CHF 546.43
MX$12,632.10
NOK 6,761.62
SEK 6,382.56
DKK 4,362.22

About the Item

An 18th century engraved portrait of William Harvey, MD by Jacobus Houbraken after a painting by Wilhem von Bemmel, from "The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", published in London in 1739 by John & Paul Knapton. It depicts the portrait of Harvey in an ornamental oval draped by a curtain. He is turned to his left, in a thoughtful pose. He is wearing a dark coat over a dark shirt with a broad white collar and many buttons. Below the oval is a drawing of the human arterial system in the lower left, the rod of Asclepius with what appears to be a live snake and books lying in foreground on the right. This beautifully inked engraving measures 15.75" in height and 9.75" in width with wide margins. There is a shallow elongated area of paper loss at the edge of the right margin. There are a few very faint spots in the wide upper margin and one in the lower left marginal corner. The print is otherwise in excellent condition. The print is in the collection of multiple museums and institutions, including: The British Museum, The Library of Congress, The National Portrait Gallery, The Chicago Art Institute William Harvey was an English physician, best known for his contributions to anatomy and physiology, and in particular for his studies of the circulatory system, which he published in 1616. He was the first physician to describe the properties of blood being pumped to the brain and the rest of the body by the heart. He was also the chief physician to both King James I (1566-1625) and King Charles I (1600-1649) and he built a library for the Royal College of Physicians. Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) was a Dutch engraver who devoted himself almost entirely to portraiture. He produced a published record of the lives of artists from the Dutch Golden Age. In many cases his portraits are the only likenesses left of these people. Houbraken He collaborated with the historian Thomas Birch and artist George Vertue, on the project entitled, "Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", published in parts in London from 1743 to 1752. From 1752 to 1759 he worked with the historian Jan Wagenaar (1709–1773) on his 21 part "Vaderlandsche Historie", published by Isaac Tirion in Amsterdam.
  • Creator:
    Jacobus Houbraken (1698 - 1780, Dutch)
  • Creation Year:
    1739
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.75 in (40.01 cm)Width: 9.75 in (24.77 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
    1730-1739
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: # 9321stDibs: LU117328754952

More From This Seller

View All
Sir Francis Drake: 18th C. Portrait of 16th C. Navigator, Privateer, Politician
By Jacobus Houbraken
Located in Alamo, CA
This an 18th century copper plate engraved portrait of Sir Francis Drake by Jacobus Houbraken, after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, from "The Hea...
Category

1740s Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

Thomas Willis, MD, 17th C. Pioneer of Neurology & Psychiatry: 18th C. Portrait
By George Vertue
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of the 17th century physician and scientist Thomas Willis, MD from "The Heads of Illustrious Person...
Category

1740s Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

Sir Francis Bacon: 18th C. Portrait of Philosopher, Scientist, Author, Statesman
By Jacobus Houbraken
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of Sir Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, Lord Chancellor by Jacobus Houbraken in 1738 after a p...
Category

1730s Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

N. Lambert Seigneur de Thorigny: 17th C. Engraved Portrait After Largillière
By Nicolas de Largillière
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a 17th century engraving entitled "Messire Nicolas Lambert Seigneur de Thorigny, Conseiller du Roy" by Pierre Drevet after a painting by Noicolas de Largillière, published in Paris in 1698. This portrait depicts a three-quarter length view of Nicolas Lambert de Thorigny, who is dressed in elaborate robes and collar of a wealthy Parisian nobleman of the time. He is seated directed to the left and looking directly at the viewer. He is holding an inscribed note in his right hand. A magnificent billowing curtain is in the background. Lambert's coat of arms is shown in the center of the lower inscription area. In the inscription area is lettered with title, production detail: "Nic. Largilliere pinxit" and "Petr. Drevet sculpsit", and publication detail: "Se vend a Paris chez Drevet rüe du Foin au coin du College de Maître Gervais". Nicolas Lambert, Seigneur de Thorigny (1600-1664), was a French nobleman and military commander who lived in the 17th century. He served in the French army during the Thirty Years' War, a conflict that took place from 1618 to 1648 and involved many European powers. Lambert fought in several battles during the war and rose to the rank of colonel. After the war, Lambert returned to France and became involved in politics. He served as a member of the Estates General, a legislative body that advised the king, and as a governor of several provinces. He was a counsellor and confidant of King Louis XIV. He had the title of Président de la Chambre des Comptes. He also became a member of the French Academy of Sciences, a prestigious institution that promotes scientific research and scholarship. Lambert was known for his military expertise, his intelligence, and his commitment to public service. He iInherited the Hôtel Lambert in Paris from his brother Jean Baptiste in 1644 and hired some of the most prominent artists of the time, including Charles Le Brun to decorate and furnish the building. This beautiful old master engraving was created with impressive detailed technique. It is printed on laid, chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 18.5" high and 13.38" wide. The sheet is adhered to an archival backing paper at the top. There is a faint horizontal center fold and mild discoloration in the inscription area and in the upper margin on the right, with mild wrinkling here. The print is otherwise in very good condition, considering its age. This engraving is so rare, that no comparable prints could be identified for sale online. It is currently only listed in museum collections, including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, The Louvre, The Riksmuseum, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum at the U. of Cambridge, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Art Museums, The Finnish National Museum, The Philadelphia Museum. It is shown in the Metropolitan Museum's Cataloque of French paintings entitled: "French Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, published in 2018, page 36. The page is included in the photos. Nicolas de Largillière (1656-1746) was a French portrait painter who achieved great success and acclaim during the late Baroque and Rococo periods. He was born in Paris and trained under the painter Antoine Goubeau. He studied in Antwerp and London before returning to France. While in England he was a favorite painter of King Charles II and King James II of England...
Category

Late 17th Century Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

18th Century Engraved Portrait of George Savile, Marquis of Halifax by Houbraken
By Jacobus Houbraken 1
Located in Alamo, CA
A superb 18th century engraved portrait of George Savile, Marquis of Halifax, Plate 82 in "The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", written by...
Category

Mid-18th Century Realist Portrait Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Engraving

Sir. John Powell, Knight: Early 18th C. Engraved Portrait After William Sherwin
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an early 18th century portrait of Sir John Powell entitled "The Honorable Sr. John Powell, Knight. one of the Justices of her Majesties' Court of Common Pleas. Ano. D 1711". It was engraved and published by John King in London in 1711, after an earlier work by William Sherwin. The engraving depicts a bust length portrait of Powell wearing an elaborate fir-trimmed robe and collar. The portrait is encompassed in an ornate oval frame, sitting on a pedestal with an impressive coat-of-arms below. This engraved portrait is printed on laid, chain-linked watermarked cream-colored paper The sheet measures 15.25" high and 11.38" wide. It is adhered to an archival thick card at the upper corners, There is a 1/8" tear at the lower edge of the sheet, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. This engraving is held by museums and institutions, including the British Museum and the Harvard University Art Museum. Sir John Powell (1632-1696) was an English lawyer and judge who served as a justice of the King's Bench from 1683 until his death. He was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, and studied at Jesus College, Oxford, before being called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1656. Powell was known for his staunch support of the monarchy and the Church of England, and he played a prominent role in the trial of the Whig leader Lord William Russell in 1683, which resulted in Russell's execution for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate King Charles II. Powell was also involved in the trials of several other prominent Whig politicians, including Algernon Sidney and Titus Oates. In addition to his work as a judge, Powell was also a member of Parliament for various constituencies throughout his career, and he served as Solicitor General and Attorney General for Wales under King James II. However, he opposed James's efforts to promote Catholicism and supported the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which led to James's overthrow and the installation of William and Mary as joint monarchs. Powell was known for his intellectual rigor and his legal expertise, and he authored several influential legal treatises during his lifetime. He was widely respected by his peers and by the legal community as a whole, and his legacy as a jurist and judge continues to be celebrated today. William Sherwin (1645-1709) was an English engraver who worked during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and is known for his high-quality engravings of various subjects, including portraits, landscapes, and architectural views. Sherwin was trained as an engraver and worked as an apprentice to the renowned engraver Robert White. After completing his training, he went on to establish his own studio in London, where he produced a significant body of work over the course of his career. One of Sherwin's most famous works is his engraving of the portrait of John Locke...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

You May Also Like

Portrait of Johannes Henisius by Wolfgang and Lucas Kilian, Augsburg, 1638
Located in Langweer, NL
Description of the print: This is a detailed and symbolic line engraving from 1638, portraying Johannes Henisius (Johann Heins), a distinguished physician, philosopher, and poet lau...
Category

Antique 1630s Prints

Materials

Paper

Portrait of Man - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810
By Thomas Holloway
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Man is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the Love of Manki...
Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Antique Portrait of William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne
By Jacobus Houbraken
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique portrait titled 'William Cavendish Duke of Newcastle'. William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne, KG, KB, PC (c.?16 December 1593 – ...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Portrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, 1743
By Jacobus Houbraken
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique portrait titled 'George Villiers Duke of Buckingham'. Portrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628). Artists and Engrav...
Category

Antique 18th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Portrait of Dutch General Gerard Pietersz, Hulft, c.1670
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique portrait titled 'De Ed. Hr. Gerard Hulft, Eerste Raedt en Directeur Generael van Indien, Opper Bevelhebber over de Krygs-Mach soo te Water als te Lande afgesonden na Ceylon en de kusten van Indien'. Old portrait of Gerard Pietersz. Hulft (1621-1656), a Dutch East India general sent with a fleet to Ceylon. Source unknown, to be determined. Artists and Engravers: Made by 'A. Blooteling' after 'G. Flinck'. Abraham Blooteling (1634-1690) was an eminent Dutch designer and engraver. Govert Flinck...
Category

Antique 17th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Samuel Clarke DD, portrait engraving, c1820
By Jacobus Houbraken 1
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after the painting by Gibson. Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical f...
Category

Early 19th Century Renaissance Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving