Artist: Sir Godfrey Kneller (British; German, 1646-1723), portrait painter; trained in Amsterdam under Bol (possibly also under Rembrandt?) settled in London 1676; appointed Principal Painter to William III and Mary, retaining office until his death; knighted 1692; made baronet 1715; appointed Governor of the first Academy in England 1711, after.
Engraver: Jacob Houbraken (Dutch, 1698-1780). Engraver, a specialist in portraits. Also, dealer and collector of Rembrandt's etchings, after.
Engraver: Thomas A E Chambars (British, 1724? -1789) engraver, ARA.
Title: Portrait of Thomas Wharton, 1st Marquess and 5th Baron of Wharton (British, 1648-1715) politician; active in Parliament before and during the Glorious Revolution. Commissioner for the Union of Scotland and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1708-1710); also known for his love of horse racing. Member of the Kitcat Club.
Signed and titled: Marquis of Wharton. Chambars sculp.
Dimensions: Sheet 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". Backing sheet 9 1/2" x 6 1/8".
Edition: Tobias George Smollett. The history of England, from the revolution in 1688 to the death of George the Second.
Date: 1757.
Materials and Techniques: etching and engraving on laid paper.
Mat and Frame: uniformly pasted onto the same backing sheets as WOP-502 - 509.
Provenance: The Estate of George "Yorgo" Demetrakopoulos; professor, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, and assistant to the dean at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 1965-2000.
Condition: Trimmed to the platemark. The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Part of: illustration to Smollett's 'History of England.'
Museums and Libraries: the British Museum 1874,1010.201.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: German School XVIII C. Dutch School XVIII C. British School XVIII C.
Note: This entry incorporates text from Wikipedia and the catalog entry of the same item from the British Museum collection.