Jacobus Houbraken & Frans Pourbus the Elder

Portrait of George Buchanan

Jacobus Houbraken's portrait of George Buchanan is an original engraving created by the Dutch eighteenth century artist based upon a painting by Frans Pourbus the Elder. This impression is printed upon 18th century hand-made, laid paper and with large, full margins as published by John Knapton in London in 1742 for the historical series, entitled, Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain. It is a fine, original example of the famous 18th century portrait art of Jacobus Houbraken.

George Buchanan was a Scottish poet and author, Among his pupils there was the great French writer, Montaigne. He wrote his famous 'Dectectio Mariae Reginae' in 1571. Chief amongst his many writings are his Latin poems, 'De Sphaera' and 'Rerum Scoticarum Historia' (1582).

Original engraving by the Dutch artist, Jacobus Houbraken designed by Frans Pourbus the Elder.

# 02.- Portrait of George Buchanan

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:	Portrait of George Buchanan
Engraver:	Houbraken, Jacobus (Dordrecht, 1698 - Amsterdam, 1780)
Designer:	Pourbus the Elder, Frans (Burges, 1545-Anvers, 1581)
Date:	1742
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 engraving.
	During his career both Dutch and English publishers constantly sought 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, Houbraken also engraved both the delightful vignettes and objects describing the importance of each person.
	Houbraken's portrait of George Buchanan is based upon a painting by Frans Pourbus the Elder published by J. & P. Knapton, London in 1742 for the series entitled, Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain. This set took almost twenty years to complete and 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.
	Frans Pourbus the Elder: A Flemish Renaissance painter, Frans Pourbus the Elder (Burges, 1545 - Anvers, 1581), was best known for his portraits and religious subjects. He was the son and student of Peeter Purbus and father of Frans Pourbus the younger (1569-1622). He also studied under Frans Floris; master of the guilds in Antwerp and Bruges. Today his paintings can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Louvre, Paris, the Hermitage Museum, Russia, The Wallace Collection, London, the Detroit Institute of Arts and other major public and private institutions. An impression of this original engraving is included in the permanent collection of the National Trust Collections, UK (Inventory Number 592501).
Note	George Buchanan (1506-1582): A Scottish poet and author, George Buchanan was born at Killearn in Stirlingshire and studied at St. Andrews and in Paris. In some of his early writings he satirized the Franciscans and was rewarded with imprisonment at St. Andrews. Buchanan managed to escape and went to France where he became a professor at Bordeaux. Among his pupils there was the great French writer, Montaigne. In 1547 Buchanan was invited to teach at the University of Coimbra but was imprisoned by the Inquisition from 1549 to 1551.
	George Buchanan returned to Scotland several years later and professed himself a Protestant. He became a bitter enemy of Queen Mary and cast much doubt upon her activities, particularly in relation to the murder of Darnley. He wrote his famous 'Dectectio Mariae Reginae' in 1571. From 1570 to 1578 Buchanan was also the tutor to James VI. Chief amongst his many writings are his Latin poems, 'De Sphaera' and 'Rerum Scoticarum Historia' (1582).
Reference:	* George C. Williamson, Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, London, Bell & Sons, 1927, Vol. 3, p. 77.
	The inscription below the image reads; "In the collecton of D.r Mead /F. Pourbus pinx/J. Houbraken sculps. Amst. 1741/Impensis I. & P. Knapton Londini 1942". The British Museum, London, lists an impression of this original engraving in its collection. Museum number, 1841,1211.83.
Source:	Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain
Size:	14 3/4 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 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 George Buchanan 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.
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