Jacobus Houbraken & Hans Holbein the Younger

Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset

Jacob Houbraken’s original engraving, "Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset", was commissioned by John Knapton for his ambitious publication entitled, "Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain". Requiring almost twenty years to complete, the set contained one hundred and eight portraits of British luminaries dating from the 14th to early 18th centuries. Important Kings, Queens, noblemen, politicians, writers, scientists and philosophers were included. This engraving is based upon a painting by Hans Holbein 'the Younger'. It is printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper as published by J. & P. Knapton in London in 1738 and is a prime, original example of the highly regarded 18th century portrait art created by the Dutch artist, Jacobus Houbraken.

Edward Seymour, the 1st Duke of Somerset was appointed Earl of Hertford in 1537 and later became Warden of the Scottish Marches. Upon the death of Henry VIII, Edward Seymour’s young nephew, Edward VI, ascended to the throne. Edward Seymour thus claimed the most powerful title of Lord Protector of England and was created Duke of Somerset on February 15, 1547.

Original engraving by the Dutch artist, Jacobus Houbraken designed by Hans Holbein, the Younger.

# 01.- Portrait of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset

View other original portrait engravings by Jacobus Houbraken

Jacobus Houbraken (Dordrecht, 1698 - Amsterdam, 1780)
#	Image	Title & Artists	Medium	Date	Publisher	-
01.-		Portrait of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset by Jacobus Houbraken designed by Hans Holbein the Younger	Original Engraving	1738	J. & P. Knapton, London
02.-		Portrait of George Buchanan by Jacobus Houbraken designed by Frans Pourbus the Elder	Original Engraving	1742	J. & P. Knapton, London
03.-		Portrait of Mr. Pieter de Huybert, Lord of Burgh and Crayestein, Grand Pensionary of the state of Zeelandby Jacobus Houbraken designed by Caspar Netscher.	Original Engraving	c. 1755	Issak Tirion, Amsterdam
04.-		Portrait of Sir William Morice, Secretary of State to King Charles II by Jacobus Houbraken	Original Engraving	1747	J. & P. Knapton, London
05.-		Portrait of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex by Jacobus Houbraken designed by Hans Holbein the Younger	Original Engraving	1739	J. & P. Knapton	Sold
06.-		Portrait of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel by Jacobus Houbraken designed by Peter Paul Rubens	Original Engraving	1744	J. & P. Knapton, London	Sold
07.-		Portrait of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh by Jacobus Houbraken	Original Engraving	1738	J. & P. Knapton, London
08.-		Portrait of Wilhelmus Peiffers Evangelii Minister (Evangelist Minister) by Jacobus Houbraken designed by Jan Maurits Quinkhard	Original Engraving	1751

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Title:	Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset
Artist:	Houbraken, Jacobus (Dordrecht, 1698 - Amsterdam, 1780)
Designer:	Holbein, Hans 'the Younger' (Augsburg, 1497 - London, 1543)
Date:	1738
Medium:	Original Engraving
Publisher:	J. & P. Knapton, London
Note:	Jacobus Houbraken: One of the most accomplished portrait engravers of the eighteenth century, Jacobus Houbraken first studied and apprenticed under his father, Arnold Houbraken (1660-1719), a well known engraver in his own right. The younger Houbraken rapidly evolved a technique that shared an affinity with the portrait engravers of the great seventeenth century French school, most notably, Nanteuil, Drevet and Edelinck. Houbraken, however, surpassed even these famous masters in his abilities to capture textures and tones. His skills amazed his contemporary artists and those who followed after him. A generation later, the leading Italian engraver, Raphael Morghen, remarked, “No engraver has ever equaled, and probably will not equal, the Dutchman Jacobus Houbraken, in the manner of imitating the flesh and the hair by means of the graver.” * Jacobus Houbraken’s remarkable talents are seen to their best effect in the earliest impressions. Such is the case with this original portrait engraving of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset.
	During his career both Dutch and English publishers constantly sought Jacobus Houbraken’s skills. His most famous engravings for English publication were those for the historical series, "Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", published in parts in London between 1734 and 1752. The English engraver and historian, George Vertue, was also commissioned to work on the set but most of the great portrayals were left in the hands of Houbraken, including those of Newton, Pope, Dryden, Shakespeare and Milton. Under the framed portrait of each individual, Jacobus Houbraken also designed and engraved both the delightful vignettes and objects associated with each person.
	Houbraken’s portrait of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, was commissioned by John Knapton for his ambitious publication entitled, "Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain". Requiring almost twenty years to complete, the set contained one hundred and eight portraits of British luminaries dating from the 14th to early 18th centuries. Important Kings, Queens, noblemen, politicians, writers, scientists and philosophers were included.
	Hans Holbein 'the Younger' (Augsburg, 1497 - London, 1543): One of the greatest portrait painters of any era, Hans Holbein the Younger studied art techniques under his father, Hans Holbein the Elder (c. 1465-1524). He arrived in Basel in 1515 and worked extensively there as both a painter and book illustrator. Hans Holbein visited England as a guest of Sir Thomas More in 1526 and had made it his permanent home by 1536 when he was appointed painter to the court of Henry VIII. His famous portraits created there of the King, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Sir Thomas More and many others are among his greatest.
	Edward Seymour, the 1st Duke of Somerset (c. 1506 - 1552): Edward Seymour was the elder brother of Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VII. He was appointed Earl of Hertford in 1537 and later became Warden of the Scottish Marches. Upon the death of Henry VIII (1547), Edward Seymour’s young nephew, Edward VI, ascended to the throne. Seymour thus claimed the most powerful title of Lord Protector of England and was created Duke of Somerset on February 15, 1547. Two years later he was indicted for treason and eventually executed at Tower Hill.
Source:	Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain
	The inscription in lower margin reads; "In the Collection of the R.t Hon. the Earl of Kertford/ J. Houbraken sculps Amst./Holbein pinx./Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini 1738". An impression of Jacobus Houbraken's original engraving entitled, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset is included in the National Portrat Gallery, London, Museum NGP number, D24807. The National Trust Collections, UK also lists an impression of this engraving in its collection (Inventory Number 452757.
Reference:	* George C. Williamson, "Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers", London, Bell & Sons, 1927, Vol. 3, p. 77.
Size:	14 1/2 X 9 1/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $395.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with margins cropped to the plate-mark on all sides. Containing a small stain in the lower left margin else a brilliant, early impression bearing all the fine lines of an initial printing and in good condition throughout. "Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset" represents a prime, original example of the famous eighteenth century portrait art of Jacob Houbraken.
Note:	Because of the popularity of these historical British portraits, the engravings from this set were reissued in several posthumous editions. These later impressions were printed from worn plates and lack the fine lines and tonal values found in first edition impressions. This engraving is a fine example of an initial printing.
Subject:	Jacobus Houbraken, Jacob Houbraken, "Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset", "Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", original engraving, Jane Seymour, Henry VIII, Lord Protector of England, historical British portraits, portrait engravers of the eighteenth century.
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