Description

A finely detailed copper-line engraving by the celebrated Dutch master printmaker Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780). The artwork depicts a portrait of Sir Thomas Smyth (or Smith), a prominent English scholar, diplomat, and statesman who served the Tudor court during the reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth I.

This engraving is part of Houbraken's renowned series, The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, published in London between 1743 and 1752. The portrait itself is derived from an earlier painting, often attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger, and is set within an elaborate, decorative cartouche featuring a small heraldic shield at the base. The engraving in your possession is an impression from the original plate, possibly a later 19th-century printing.

The print is housed within an attractive contemporary frame with a faux-marble matting, ready for display.

• Artist: Jacobus Houbraken (Dutch, 1698–1780)
• Subject: Sir Thomas Smyth (English, 1513–1577)
• Medium: Copper-line engraving on paper
• Approximate Plate Mark Dimensions: 14.18 in H x 9.06 in W (360mm x 230mm) 
• Framed Dimensions: H:30in W:23in 
• Condition: The engraving appears to be in very good condition; the frame is contemporary and shows minor signs of age.