Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow - Francesco Bartolozzi

A detailed stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, depicting Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow, in his official robes as Lord High Chancellor.

This stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi depicts Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow, who served as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. The print is based on an original oil painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Bartolozzi, an Italian engraver who spent much of his career in London, was a master of the stipple technique. This method uses small dots to create subtle tonal gradations, allowing for a soft, painterly quality that mimics the appearance of chalk drawings.

Thurlow is shown in his official robes, seated in a high-backed chair. He wears the traditional full-bottomed wig associated with the legal profession of the eighteenth century. His expression is stern and authoritative, reflecting his reputation as a formidable political figure. Beside him, resting on a table, is the Great Seal of Great Britain, a symbol of his office. The composition follows the conventions of formal portraiture common in the Georgian era, where the subject is surrounded by objects that denote their social standing and professional responsibilities.

Bartolozzi’s technical precision is evident in the rendering of the lace cravat and the heavy fabric of the robes. The stipple dots are applied with care to differentiate between the textures of the velvet, the intricate lace, and the powdered hair of the wig. The inclusion of the coat of arms at the base of the print, along with the formal lettering, identifies the sitter and his titles. This work provides a clear view into the visual culture of the British legal and political elite during the late eighteenth century. It remains a fine example of the reproductive printmaking that allowed the public to engage with the likenesses of prominent figures of the day.