Jacobus Houbraken

Joseph Addison: 18th C. Portrait of Philosopher, Poet, Playwright and Politician

1748

This is a mid 18th century engraved portrait of Abel François Poisson de Vandières, Marquis de Marigny by Jean Georges Wille after a painting by Louis Tocque...

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...

This is a 17th century engraved mezzotint portrait of the Duchess of St. Albans by John Smith, after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller. It was published in London by John Boydell in 1694. The Duchess of St. Albans (1642-1712) was a woman named Diana de Vere. She was born in 1642, the daughter of Aubrey de Vere, the 20th Earl of Oxford. In 1662, she married Charles Beauclerk, the illegitimate son of King Charles II and his mistress, Nell Gwyn. As a result of her marriage, Diana became the Duchess of St. Albans, and she and Charles had several children together. Diana was known for her beauty and charm, and she was a prominent figure in the court of King Charles II. Despite her husband's illegitimate birth, Diana was highly respected in the royal court and was known for her intelligence and wit. She was a patron of the arts and supported many artists and writers of the time. Diana lived through a tumultuous period of English history, including the Great Fire of London and the Glorious Revolution, which saw King James II replaced by William of Orange. She died in 1712 at the age of 70 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Descendants of Diana and her husband, who was an illegitimate son of King Charles II, include Diana, Princess of Wales and her son William, Duke of Cambridge. An author wrote of her: "The line of Vere, so long renown’d in arms, Concludes with luster in St. Albans’s charms; Her conquering eyes have made their race complete, It rose in valor, and in beauty set." This striking mezzotint engraving depicts Diana, Duchess of St Albans in a three-quarter length pose, standing, wearing loose flowing dress and a wrap. She has a very serene, calm appearance as she is looking straight at the viewer. There is a landscape of trees in the background. The print is adhered in the corners to an archival backing, which is itself adhered in the upper corners to a larger backing. The print is trimmed to just beyond the plate mark. There are areas of discoloration in the margins and in the inscription area, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. The sheet measures 14.5" high and 10" wide. This mezzotint is held by multiple museums and institutions, including The British Museum, The National Portrait Gallery London, The Fine Arts Museum of Boston, The Lewis Walpole Library at Yale, The Yale Center for British Art, The Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge and The National Galleries of Scotland. The original Kneller painting is part of the British Royal Collection Trust and hangs in the King's Private Dining Room at Hampton Court Palace. Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) was a leading portrait painter of his time, particularly renowned for his depictions of the British aristocracy and royalty. He was born in Lübeck, Germany, and trained in Amsterdam under the painter Ferdinand Bol...

This is an 18th century mezzotint portrait of Elizabeth, Countess of Northumberland, Baroness Percy by Richard Houston after a painting by Joshua Reynolds, published in London by Robert Sayer in 1763. It is a rare, full length portrait of Elizabeth, who was known as Lady Betty. Lady Betty stands, facing to the right, holding her coronet, and wearing her peeress’s ermine and velvet robes over a brocade dress. In the background are a column, a billowing drape, and the grounds of Alnwick Castle...

This is an 18th century engraving and etching entitled "Parmigiani Amica" by Robert Strange after a painting by Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, better known as Parmigianino, who lived during the Renaissance period. It was published in London in 1774. As the inscription states, the painting was in the collection of the King of Naples at the time the engraving was made. The engraving depicts a half-length portrait of a young woman, known as Parmigiani's Amica (meaning "female friend" in Italian). She is depicted wearing a simple but elegant dress with a low-cut neckline, which reveals her delicate features and graceful neck. Her hair is arranged in a simple yet stylish manner. She is turning to the right to look lovingly at her infant, which she is holding with her right arm. She is touching the baby's mouth with her left hand. The background of the engraving is plain and unadorned, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the subject of the portrait. The result is a beautiful and timeless image that captures the essence of Renaissance portraiture. The engraving is printed on watermarked paper. The sheet measures 16.25" high and 12' wide. The sheet is adhered to paper in its upper corners and it has been removed from the paper in its lower corners. There is some mild discoloration and some wrinkling in the margins, including the lower inscription area, and a small dark spot in the upper margin, which may represent a drop of ink occuring at the time of printing. These issues do not involve the image, which is in very good condition. The print is held by several museums and institutions, including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The British Museum in London, The Royal Museums of the UK, The British National Trust...

This is an 18th century engraved and etched portrait of Johannes Wesselius by Jacobus Houbraken after a painting by Jan Maurits Quinkhard. It depicts a half-height image of Wesselius...

Artist: Sidney Tushingham (English, 1884-1968) Title: "Peggy" *Signed by Tushingham in pencil lower right. It is also monogram signed in the plate (printed signature) lower right Cir...

Artist: Sidney Tushingham (English, 1884-1968) Title: "Molly" *Signed by Tushingham in pencil lower right. It is also monogram signed in the plate (printed signature) upper right Cir...

Artist: George Virtue (English, 1684-1756) Title: "King Richard II" Portfolio: The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History *Issued unsigned, though signed by Virtue in the plate (printed signature) lower right Year: 1736 Medium: Original Engraving on laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown, London? UK Publisher: James, John, and Paul Knapton, London, UK Reference: Brunet No. IV.1115; Bryan V. No. 294 Framing: Not framed, but matted with 100% cotton rag matting from Holland Matted size: 19.5" x 15.25" Image size: 11.25" x 7.25" Condition: In excellent condition Notes: Comes from Virtue's 1736 "The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History" portfolio of approximately 63 engravings. Richard II (1367-1400), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard's father, Edward, Prince of Wales, died in 1376, leaving Richard as heir apparent to his grandfather, King Edward III...

Artist: George Virtue (English, 1684-1756) Title: "King Henry VII" Portfolio: The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History *Issued unsigned, though signed by Virtue in the plate (printed signature) lower right Year: 1736 Medium: Original Engraving on laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown, London? UK Publisher: James, John, and Paul Knapton, London, UK Reference: Brunet No. IV.1115; Bryan V. No. 294 Framing: Not framed, but matted with 100% cotton rag matting from Holland and filet from Italy Matted size: 19.75" x 15.75" Image size: 11" x 7" Condition: A few minor foxmarks. In excellent condition Notes: Comes from Virtue's 1736 "The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History" portfolio of approximately 63 engravings. Engraving of Henry VII, King of England. Half length with long hair, cap with jewelled brooch, jewelled collar, and robes edged in ermine, holding orb in left hand and sceptre in right. Within a rectangular frame with crown, orb, and sceptre above and with coat of arms, putti, and a portrait of Elizabeth of York below. With English inscription below. Henry VII (1457-1509) was the King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 to his death. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henry attained the throne when his forces defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the culmination of the Wars of the Roses. Biography: George Vertue...

Artist: Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (German, 1884-1976) Title: "Männlicher Kopf von vorn (Male Head from the Front)" Portfolio: Das Spiel Christa vom Schmerz der Schönheit des Weibes (The Play Christa from the Pain of the Beauty of the Woman) *Issued unsigned Year: 1918 Medium: Original Woodcut Engraving on wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Fritz Voigt, Berlin, Germany Publisher: Verlag Die Aktion, Berlin, Germany Reference: Schapire No. 226, page 46; Jentsch No. 35. Rifkind No. 2563; Lang No. 300; Reed No. 118 Overall size with attached page: 8.5" x 10.63" Sheet size: 8.5" x 5.38" Image size: 6.38" x 3.5" Condition: Toning to sheet (as normal). In very good condition Very rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Oxnard, CA. Comes from a complete originally bound 48 page folio with 9 original woodcut engravings by Schmidt-Rottluff. Text by Alfred Brust. Presently attached to its accompanying page. The cover and title pages in pictures are not included, only for reference/provenance. There is an example of this work in the permanent collection of the Brücke Museum, Berlin, Germany. Biography: Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (born December 1, 1884, Rottluff, near Chemnitz, Germany—died...

Artist: Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (German, 1884-1976) Title: "Weiblicher Kopf (Female Head)" Portfolio: Das Spiel Christa vom Schmerz der Schönheit des Weibes (The Play Christa from the Pain of the Beauty of the Woman) *Issued unsigned Year: 1918 Medium: Original Woodcut Engraving on wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Fritz Voigt, Berlin, Germany Publisher: Verlag Die Aktion, Berlin, Germany Reference: Schapire No. 224, page 46; Jentsch No. 35. Rifkind No. 2563; Lang No. 300; Reed No. 118 Overall size with attached page: 8.5" x 10.63" Sheet size: 8.5" x 5.38" Image size: 4.88" x 3.5" Condition: Toning to sheet (as normal). In very good condition Very rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Oxnard, CA. Comes from a complete originally bound 48 page folio with 9 original woodcut engravings by Schmidt-Rottluff. Text by Alfred Brust. Presently attached to its accompanying page. The cover and title pages in pictures are not included, only for reference/provenance. There is an example of this work in the permanent collection of the Brücke Museum, Berlin, Germany. Biography: Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (born December 1, 1884, Rottluff, near Chemnitz, Germany—died...