Sir William Sanderson - William Faithorne the Elder

A detailed 1658 portrait engraving of Sir William Sanderson by the master printmaker William Faithorne the Elder.

This engraving by William Faithorne the Elder depicts Sir William Sanderson, a notable historian and author of the seventeenth century. Executed in 1658, the work demonstrates the technical precision for which Faithorne is recognised. The portrait is presented within an oval frame, a common convention for formal portraiture of the period, which directs the viewer's attention to the subject's facial features and expression.

Faithorne employs a sophisticated system of hatching and cross-hatching to model the form of the face and the texture of the subject's hair. The light source appears to come from the upper left, casting subtle shadows that define the contours of the face and the folds of the clothing. The subject wears a plain collar and a dark cloak, typical of the sober attire favoured by the intellectual class of the mid-seventeenth century. Below the oval frame, a cartouche contains the Latin inscription 'Gulielmus Sandersonus', along with the subject's age and a philosophical sentiment.

Faithorne, who studied under Robert Peake and later spent time in Paris, brought a refined continental sensibility to English printmaking. His ability to capture the character of his sitters through line work alone is evident here. The print serves as a record of a specific individual while also demonstrating the high standards of the printmaking craft in London during the Restoration era. The clarity of the lines and the balanced composition reflect the disciplined approach of a master engraver working at the height of his career. This piece is a fine example of the portrait engraving tradition that flourished in England before the widespread adoption of mezzotint techniques.