Henry Prince of Wales, Son of King James I - Jacobus Houbraken

A detailed 1738 engraving by Jacobus Houbraken depicting Henry, Prince of Wales, framed by classical allegorical motifs and a scene of a jousting tournament.

This engraving by the Dutch artist Jacobus Houbraken depicts Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King James I. Published in 1738, the work forms part of the series 'Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain', a project that brought together the skills of Houbraken and the historian Thomas Birch. The portrait is presented within an oval frame, a common convention for eighteenth-century commemorative prints, which allows for the inclusion of elaborate allegorical elements.

Below the central portrait, Houbraken includes a relief-like scene featuring a jousting tournament, referencing the Prince's known interest in martial exercises and chivalric pursuits. A grotesque mask, reminiscent of Medusa, sits between the portrait and the lower scene, adding a layer of classical ornamentation typical of the period. The Prince is shown wearing a ruff and armour, reflecting the fashion and status of the early seventeenth-century court. The technical precision of the engraving is evident in the varied line work used to define the textures of the metal armour, the soft fabric of the ruff, and the architectural details of the frame.

Houbraken was highly regarded for his ability to translate painted portraits into the medium of engraving. This specific print was based on an original work by Isaac Oliver, a miniaturist active during the Jacobean era. By reproducing these historical likenesses, Houbraken helped to standardise the visual representation of British historical figures for an eighteenth-century audience. The print serves as a record of both the subject's appearance and the aesthetic preferences of the era in which it was produced, demonstrating the high level of craftsmanship associated with Dutch printmaking during the mid-eighteenth century.