Jacob Houbraken (aka Jacobus Houbraken) (1698–1780)
“Ann of Cleves
Queen of Henry VIII”, 1739, from the series, “Birch's Heads” (aka “The Heads of
Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraved by Mr Houbraken and Mr Vertue,
with their Lives and Characters by Thomas Birch, AM, FRS”), after Hans
Holbein the Younger (1497/8–1543), published in 1740 (as inscribed on
plate) by John Knapton (fl.1735–1789) and his brother Paul Knapton
(1703–1755) in London.
The Curator of
the British Museum offers the following insights regarding the publication of
the series featuring this print:
“Initially
issued in portfolios of four portraits from 1737 onwards, the portraits were
subsequently published in Thomas Birch's compilation of biographies 'The Heads
of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraved by Mr. Houbraken and Mr.
Vertue, with their Lives and Characters by Thomas Birch, A.M.F.R.S.', published
by John and Paul Knapton in London (1743–1752). The number of portraits included
varied according to the different editions, mostly containing 108 plates but
some editions up to 120 plates (each measuring roughly 360 x 225 mm).
Most plates were
engraved by Houbraken and at least seven were made by Vertue. Hubert-François Gravelot was responsible for the
ornamental surrounds which were engraved first” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1844-0511-13).
Etching and
engraving on laid paper trimmed along the image borderline on the top and sides
and retaining the lettered publications details below the borderline, backed
with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet)
37.5 x 23 cm; (image borderline) 36.5 x 22.9 cm.
Inscribed on
plate within the image borderline: (cartouche) “ANN OF CLEUES QUEEN OF K HENRY
VIII.”
Lettered below
the image borderline: (left) “Holben pinxit.”; (left of centre) “In the
Collection of Thomas Barret Esqr.”; (right of centre) Impensis J. & P.
Knapton Londini 1740.”; (right) J. Houbraken Sculps. Amst. 1739.”
State ii (of ii)
with the addition of publication details.
Ver Huell 12 (Alexander
Ver Huell 1875, “Jacobus Houbraken et Son Oeuvre”, Arnhem, P Gouda Quint, cat.
no. 12); O'Donoghue 3 (Freeman O'Donoghue
1908–25, “Catalogue of Engraved
British Portraits Preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the
British Museum”, 6 vols., London, cat. no. 3).
The British
Museum offers the following description of this print:
“Portrait of
Anne of Cleves, bust in frontal view, wearing a jewelled dress; in oval border
with cartouche and putto pointing at a crown below; state with publisher's
address; after Hans Holbein the Younger. 1739 (published 1740)”
Condition:
well-printed, near faultless impression, trimmed along the image borderline,
but retaining the publication details below the borderline, and laid onto a
support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in excellent
condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing).
I am selling
this remarkable portrait of Anne of Cleves (aka Anna von Kleve) (1515–1557)—
the fourth wife of King Henry VIII
from 6 January to 9 July 1540—set in an elaborate frame that was possibly
engraved by Hubert-François Gravelot (aka Hubert-François Bourguignon) (1699–1773)
before Jacob Houbraken engraved the portrait of the Queen, for AU$254
(currently US$176.38/EUR156.82/GBP141.27 at the time of posting this print)
including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course,
any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).
If you are
interested in purchasing this serene portrait enlivened by an cartouche frame
in the Baroque auricular style—a style described perfectly by Harold Osborne (1975)
as “undulating, slithery and boneless forms [that] occasionally carry a
suggestion of the inside of an ear or a conch shell” (The Oxford Companion to the
Decorative Arts)—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will
send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.
This print has been sold
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