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Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington

Print
1739 (engraving (printing process))
Artist/Maker

A bust portrait of Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618-85). Arlington was a Royalist in the Civil War, knighted by Charles II during his exile and made principle Secretary of State during the Restoration.

This is an eighteenth-century engraving by the Dutch engraver Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after a portrait by the seventeenth-century artist Sir Peter Lely (1618-80). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver working in Amsterdam and the son of the painter and writer Arnold Houbraken. Lely, also of Dutch extraction, established a fashionable portrait practice in Covent Garden employing studio assistants to keep up with the growing demand for his services. In 1680 he was knighted by the King.

Arlington is depicted bust length in a Rococo-style frame wearing a fashionable wig and a black patch on his nose which covers a battle scar. The Rococo style, predominant during the mid-eighteenth century, is known for its asymmetry and patterns taken from nature. The frame surrounding Arlington is decorated with asymmetric curves and shell shapes.


Object details

Object type
TitleHenry Bennet, Earl of Arlington (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Line engraving on paper
Brief description
Portrait of Henry Bennet, First Earl of Arlington
Physical description
Bust-length portrait, turned slightly to the right, a black patch on the nose in a decorated oval.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39cm
  • Width: 24.7cm
The print is mounted, so measurement has been taken from the inside edge of the mount.
Marks and inscriptions
'Henry Bennet Earl of Arlington' printed in the oval border. 'P.Lely pinx. J. Houbraken scupls. Amst. In the Collection of Sr.Thomas Hanmer Bart. / Impensis J. & P. Knapton Londini 1739' printed beneath.
Historical context
A bust portrait of Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618-85). Arlington was a Royalist in the Civil War, knighted by Charles II during his exile and made principle Secretary of State during the Restoration.
Summary
A bust portrait of Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618-85). Arlington was a Royalist in the Civil War, knighted by Charles II during his exile and made principle Secretary of State during the Restoration.

This is an eighteenth-century engraving by the Dutch engraver Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after a portrait by the seventeenth-century artist Sir Peter Lely (1618-80). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver working in Amsterdam and the son of the painter and writer Arnold Houbraken. Lely, also of Dutch extraction, established a fashionable portrait practice in Covent Garden employing studio assistants to keep up with the growing demand for his services. In 1680 he was knighted by the King.

Arlington is depicted bust length in a Rococo-style frame wearing a fashionable wig and a black patch on his nose which covers a battle scar. The Rococo style, predominant during the mid-eighteenth century, is known for its asymmetry and patterns taken from nature. The frame surrounding Arlington is decorated with asymmetric curves and shell shapes.
Collection
Accession number
22449

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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