Artist: Sir Peter Lely (Dutch, 1618-1680), painter and collector, born Pieter van der Faes; trained Haarlem under Grebber; to London by 1647. Court painter to Charles II between 1660/80; collaborating with Hendrick Danckerts, Willem van de Velde II, and Prosper Lankrink.
Engraver: Jacobus Houbraken (1698 - 1780) was a Dutch engraver and the son of the artist and biographer Arnold Houbraken.
Title: Portrait of William Temple. Sir William Temple, 1st Baronet (1628 – 1699) was an English diplomat, statesman, and essayist.
Inscription content: Lettered around portrait: "Sr. WILLIAM TEMPLE." Lettered in lower margin: "J. Houbraken sculps. Amst." and "P. Lely Pinxit." and "In the Collection of John Temple Esqr." and "Impensis J & P Knapton Londini 1738".
Dimensions: Image/plate 14 3/4" x 9 1/4. Sheet 21" x 14 1/4".
Publisher: John & Paul Knapton (active 1735-1789). From 1712 until 1719, John Knapton was apprenticed to his father, a leading London bookseller. He continued to work for his father until the latter's death in 1736, at which point John, and his brother Paul, took over the family business. Knapton was responsible for the publishing of some of the most significant works of the day including a complete edition of Alexander Pope's works and the first edition of Samuel Johnson's. (National Portrait Gallery).
Edition: Thomas Birch. The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraved by Mr. Houbraken and Mr. Vertue (London, 1743-1752). George Vertue FSA (1684 – 1756) was an English engraver and antiquary. Thomas Birch (1705 – 1766) was an English historian.
Date: 1838.
Materials and Techniques: engraving and etching on laid paper.
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: The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Part of Series: Birch's Heads.
Museums and Libraries: The British Museum 1841,1211.120.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: 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.