General Portraits

23x37 cm

S.^R THOMAS SMYTH
In the Possession of S.^r  Edward Smyth of Hill Hall in Essex Bar.^t
Holben Pinxit. |  J Houbraken sculpt. Amst.1743.
Impensis J. & P. Knapton London 1744.

Copper engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8 -1543). Published in The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraved by Mr. Houbraken, and Mr Vertue...by Thomas Birch...London, John and Paul Knapton, 1742-1756.
Sir Thomas Smyth (1513-1577) English merchant, politician and colonial administrator. First governor of the East India Company. Financed numerous voyages of exploration and obtained settlement rights to the Virginia colony from Sir Walter Raleigh. Endowed several charities in the parish of Tonbridge, Kent.

Small margins with some browning and minor chipping to paper edges otherwise in good condition.