print;
album
- Museum number
- 1868,0822.6653
- Title
- Series: Birch's Heads
- Description
-
Portrait of a woman formerly considered to be Anne Boleyn, bust directed to left, wearing a cap and pearl jewellery; in an architectural oval with pedestal below; a 'memento mori' scene on the pedestal; a putto pointing a torch at Boleyn's decapitated head and an axe below; state published without engravers' address; after Hans Holbein the Younger. 1738
Etching and engraving
- Production date
- 1738
- Dimensions
-
Height: 367 millimetres
-
Width: 227 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- For comment on the series see also 1844,0511.13. For an impression of an earlier state see 1981,U.2040. Houbraken's plate was engraved in Amsterdam. The composition derives via an intermediary source from Holbein's drawing formerly in the collection of Thomas Howard Earl of Arundel (now in the British Museum) after which an etching by Wenceslaus Hollar (New Hollstein 978; see inv.no O,7.42) was made in 1649. An inscription on both drawing and print identify the sitter as Anne Boleyn, an identification that was repeated in subsequent copies; but this is today considered incorrect. For further comment on the sitter, see Holbein's drawing, inv.no 1975,0621.22.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraved by Mr Houbraken and by Mr Vertue (London, 1743-1752)
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0822.6653