Antique Master Print-DESIDERIUS-ERASMUS-PORTRAIT-Houston-Holbein-ca. 1750-1775

Medium: Mezzotint engraving on hand laid (verge) paper.

Sheet size: 20.6 x 25.4 cm (8.11 x 10 inch). Image size: 20.6 x 25.4 cm. (8.11 x 10 inch).

Condition: good, given age. Light foxing, creasing, and soiling. Original folding as issued. Slight paper separation at right fold. Soma paper loss at bottom right from binding. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

DESIDERIUS ERASMUS, RICHARD HOUSTON, HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER, MEZZOTINT, 18TH CENTURY PORTRAIT, DUTCH HUMANIST, HOLBEIN PORTRAIT | PCO-E15-2-44

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Published in London, possibly for Wheatley’s London (vol. 3, part 1), circa 1750-1775.

Reference: National Portrait Gallery, London, inv. NPG D19939.

Biography engraver: Richard Houston (1721/22-1775) was an Irish engraver active in London. He became known for his refined mezzotint portraits after Old Master paintings, contributing significantly to the dissemination of painted likenesses in 18th-century Britain.

Biography artist: Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98-1543) was a German-Swiss painter and printmaker, one of the most important portraitists of the Northern Renaissance. Active in Basel and later at the English court of Henry VIII, Holbein produced iconic portraits including that of Desiderius Erasmus.