Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) Lord Chancellor, humanist, and martyr

Location

Country: Holy See
City: Vatican City
Place: British Embassy

Sir Thomas More was a humanist scholar and statesman under Henry VIII. He practised law during the early years of the 16th century and held various positions of prominence, including Sheriff of London (1510), Master of Requests (1518) and Speaker of the Commons (1523). Knighted in 1521, More succeeded Cardinal Wolsey as Lord Chancellor in 1529. He is known for his great literary work, Utopia.

More was permitted to read heretical books and refute them. Among his refutations are works aimed against William Tyndale. In 1532 he resigned his office as Lord Chancellor over the issue of Henry VIII’s divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. He refused to acknowledge the Act of Supremacy, making Henry VIII the head of the Church of England, and was imprisoned. Tried and condemned for treason, he was executed in 1535. He was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1886 and canonised in 1935, four hundred years after his death. 

This print was made after a portrait by Hans Holbein, originally painted in 1527 (The Frick Collection, New York). The gold chain More wears signifies his allegiance to the King and his high office. Holbein was the guest of Sir Thomas More when he first came to England. 

This engraving was published to illustrate a work written by the compiler of histories and biographer Thomas Birch (1705-1766), titled The Lives and Characters of Illustrious Persons (published 1743-52). The work was published by John and Paul Knapton of Ludgate Street, London, and featured portraits of 108 famous Britons from the time of King Edward III (reigned 1327-77) to contemporary figures. Each portrait was accompanied by Birch’s account of the sitter’s life.

Jacobus Houbraken was born in Dordrecht, the son of Dutch artist and art historian Arnold Houbraken. Jacobus studied under his father, before making his name engraving portraits after both Old Master and contemporary artists, producing works for several countries. He engraved the plates for the third edition of Paul de Rapin’s ‘History of England’ (1743–47) and also for Thomas Birch’s ‘The Heads of Illustrious Lives and Characters of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain’ (1743–52). Hubert-François Gravelot produced the ornamental designs for both works. Houbraken’s pupils included Dutch printmaker and draftsman, Pierre Tanje. Houbraken died in Amsterdam at about the age of 82.

People

Sir Thomas More (1478 - 1535)

Places

Subjects

axe, male portrait, 16th century costume, Chancellor's Purse, Lord Chancellor, mace

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

Hans Holbein (1497/8 - 1543)
Jacobus Houbraken (1698 - 1780)

Title

Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) Lord Chancellor, humanist, and martyr

Date

1740

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Mrs Dorothy Lane, February 1958

GAC number

3982