Jacobus Houbraken & Hans Holbein, the Younger

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex

Jacobus Houbraken's portrait of Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex is an original engraving by the Dutch eighteenth century engraver based upon a painting by Hans Holbein, the Younger. This impression is printed upon 18th century hand-made, laid paper as published by Knapton in London in 1739 for his most famous set of engravings created for English publication, Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain.

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex was the secretary to Cardinal Wolsey and subsequently to Henry VIII and his chief advisor upon ecclesiastical matters. Today Cromwell is best remembered for two crucial acts. Firstly Cromwell was the principal promoter of the dissolution of the monasteries and other Catholic institutions. Secondly, he negotiated Henry's ill fated marriage with Anne of Cleves.

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

# 05.- Portrait of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex

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:	Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex
Engraver:	Houbraken, Jacobus (Dordrecht, 1698 - Amsterdam, 1780)
Designer:	Holbein, Hans 'the Younger' (Augsburg, 1497 - London, 1543)
Date:	1739
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." * Houbraken's remarkable talents are seen to their best effect in the earliest impressions. Such is the case with this original portrait engraving of Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex.
	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. 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. 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 Jacobus Houbraken, including those of Newton, Pope, Dryden, Shakespeare and Milton. Under the framed portrait of each individual, Houbraken also engraved both the delightful vignettes and objects describing the importance of each person.
Note:	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.
Note:	Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex (1485-1540): Thomas Cromwell was the secretary to Cardinal Wolsey and subsequently to Henry VIII and his chief advisor upon ecclesiastical matters. Today Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex is best remembered for two crucial acts. Firstly, Thomas Cromwell was the principal promoter of the dissolution of the monasteries and other Catholic institutions. Secondly he negotiated Henry's ill fated marriage with Anne of Cleves. (The vignette in this engraving depicts Henry's introduction to Anne by means of a flattering portrait.) The eventual failure of this marriage contributed to Cromwell's downfall. Like so many of his contemporaries in the perilous court of King Henry, Thomas Cromwell's life ended on the executioner's block.
Reference:	* George C. Williamson, Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, London, Bell & Sons, 1927, Vol. 3, p. 77.
Source:	Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain
	The inscription below the image reads; "In the Possession of Edward Southwell Esq.r/ J. Houbraken sculps/Holbein pinx./Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini 1739". The Frick Collections contains an impression of Jacobus Houbraken's original engraving entitled, Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex in its collection. Accession number: 1980.2.121.
Size:	14 1/2 X 9 3/8 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with large, full margins. A brilliant, early impression bearing all the fine lines of an initial printing and in excellent condition throughout. This original engraving entitled Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex represents a prime example of the famous eighteenth century portrait art of Jacobus Houbraken.
	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 superb example of an initial printing.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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