Sir Thomas More - Jacobus Houbraken

A detailed 1741 engraving by Jacobus Houbraken depicting Sir Thomas More, based on the original portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger.

This engraving by the Dutch artist Jacobus Houbraken depicts Sir Thomas More, the English lawyer, social philosopher, and statesman. Houbraken, a master of the burin, produced this work as part of a larger series documenting historical figures, often drawing inspiration from earlier portraiture. The composition is based on a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, which Houbraken adapted into a formalised, architectural frame.

The portrait presents More within an oval cartouche, set against a stone-like plinth. He wears the fur-trimmed robes of his office, complete with the collar of the Order of the Garter. His expression is composed, reflecting the gravity associated with his role as Lord Chancellor. Below the portrait, the artist includes symbolic objects: a mace and a ceremonial purse, which denote More's legal and political authority. The precision of the line work is characteristic of Houbraken's technique, where he employs varied hatching to create depth and texture in the fabric and the stone elements.

This print was published in London in 1741 by the Knapton brothers, who were active in the production of historical volumes. The inclusion of the inscription identifying the owner of the original painting, Sir Rowland Winn, provides insight into the provenance and the circulation of such images among the British aristocracy during the eighteenth century. The work functions as a record of historical iconography, demonstrating the technical skill of Dutch engravers who were frequently commissioned by British publishers to illustrate biographical texts. The clarity of the engraving ensures that the details of the costume and the facial features remain distinct, offering a clear view of the subject as he was understood by the Enlightenment era.