FINE ART INVESTMENTS SINCE 1978
ANTIQUE PRINTS
Jacobus HOUBRAKEN
Jacobus Houbraken (25 December 1698 – 14 November 1780) was a Dutch engraver and the son of the artist and biographer Arnold Houbraken (1660–1719), whom
he assisted in producing a published record of the lives of artists from the Dutch Golden Age. Jacobus was born in Dordrecht, and learned the art of engraving
from his father. In 1707 he moved to Amsterdam, where for years he helped his father with his magnum opus, his art historical work The Great Theatre of Dutch
Painters (1718–1721). When his father died he assisted his mother with the last proofs of the manuscript before publishing. With this project he started his portraits
of Netherlandish celebrities, that are today in many cases the only likenesses left of these people. He was influenced by studying the works of Cornelis Cort, Jonas
Suyderhoef, Gerard Edelinck and the Visschers. He died, aged 81, in Amsterdam.
Houbraken devoted himself almost entirely to portraiture. His work became famous[citation needed] through his collaboration with the historian Thomas Birch
and artist George Vertue, on the project entitled, Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, published in parts in London from 1743 to 1752. After that, during
the years 1752–59 he worked with the historian Jan Wagenaar (1709–1773) on his 21 part Vaderlandsche historie, working for the publisher Isaac Tirion in
Amsterdam. With this project of biographies of celebrated figures, he annotated his work with notes about the original paintings.Among his best works are scenes
from the comedy of "De Ontdekte Schijndeugd", executed in his eightieth year, after Cornelis Troost, who was called by his countrymen the Dutch Hogarth.
Houbraken also engraved the portraits for Jan van Gool's Nieuwe schouburg der Nederlantsche kunstschilders (Den Haag, 1750–51). His oeuvre of more than 400
portrait engravings form an important record for art provenance. His portraits were often set in an oval frame, with a subtitle with the subject's claim to fame.
Under that in small letters, he placed his notes about the original oil portrait.
Title: "Sir Francis Drake"
Portfolio: The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain
Year: 1747-1752
Medium: Original Etching and Engraving
Limited edition: Unknown
Sheet size: 16" x 10.75"
Image size: 13.75" x 8.5"
Reference: O'Donoghue 20; Ver Huell 24
Price: $300