{"product_id":"thomas-cardinal-wolsey-jacobus-houbraken","title":"Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey - Jacobus Houbraken","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed 1738 engraving by Jacobus Houbraken depicting Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, featuring symbolic ecclesiastical and political iconography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving by Jacobus Houbraken depicts Thomas Wolsey, the powerful English cardinal and statesman who served Henry VIII. Published in 1738, the work is part of a larger series documenting historical figures, often based on earlier paintings or drawings. Houbraken, a Dutch engraver based in Amsterdam, became known for his technical precision and his ability to render texture through the careful application of line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe portrait presents Wolsey in profile, enclosed within a stone-carved oval frame. He wears the traditional vestments of his office, including the biretta. The composition extends beyond the portrait itself, incorporating a base decorated with symbolic elements. A lion mask sits at the centre of the plinth, supporting a cartouche that bears the subject's name. Surrounding this are items associated with Wolsey's life and ecclesiastical status, such as a staff, a seal, and a book, which suggest his roles as both a churchman and a political advisor. The drapery falling behind the oval frame adds a sense of depth and formality to the image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoubraken utilised a sophisticated system of cross-hatching and stippling to create tonal variation. This technique allows for the subtle modelling of the face and the realistic depiction of fabric folds. The work reflects the eighteenth-century interest in historical biography and the collection of portraiture. By combining the portrait with allegorical objects, the artist provides a visual summary of the subject's career. This print is a fine example of the reproductive engraving tradition, where the skill of the engraver was essential for the dissemination of historical likenesses to a wider public. The clarity of the lines and the balanced arrangement of the decorative elements demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship associated with Houbraken's output during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/portrait-of-charles-i-of-england-anthony-van-dyck\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortrait of Charles I of England - Anthony van Dyck — Anthony van Dyck\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/pastoral-landscape-with-the-ponte-molle-claude-lorrain\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePastoral Landscape with the Ponte Molle - Claude Lorrain — Claude Lorrain\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jacobus Houbraken","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58464571720015,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58464577028431,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58464577061199,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58464577093967,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58464577126735,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58464577159503,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58464577192271,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58464577225039,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58464577257807,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58464577290575,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58464577323343,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58464577356111,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Thomas-Cardinal-Wolsey_Poster_CompositorV1_1786278967765.jpg?v=1786588002","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/thomas-cardinal-wolsey-jacobus-houbraken","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}