1840s Steel Engraving
Engraved by H. ROBINSON
FROM THE ORIGINAL OF ZUCCHERO, IN THE COLLECTION OF
THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUIS OF BATH
Published by THE LONDON PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Approximate Portrait Image Area Size: 4 X 5 inches
Approximate Size With Decorated Border and vignettes: 6 X 7 1/2 inches
Approximate Overall Size with margins: 7 X 10 1/2 inches
United Kingdom History Biographies: Sir Walter Raleigh (1554?-1618), English soldier, explorer, courtier, and man of letters. As a youth Raleigh served (1569) as a volunteer in the Huguenot army in France. In 1572 he was listed as an undergraduate at Oxford, where he may have studied before going to France, and his name appears in the registry of the Middle Temple in 1575. - Raleigh conceived and organized the colonizing expeditions to America that ended tragically with the lost colony expeditions on Roanoke Island , N.C. He was later named a member of the commission for the defense against Spain, but it is doubtful that he participated in the naval operations against the Spanish Armada (1588). Probably because of his conflict with Robert Devereux, 2d earl of Essex , Elizabeth's new favorite, Raleigh left court in 1589. At Kilcolman Castle, Ireland, he became a close friend of Edmund Spenser , whose Faerie Queene, begun under the aegis of Sir Philip Sidney, was continued under Raleigh's patronage. - In 1578, Raleigh and his brother Carew joined their half brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert in outfitting a heavily armed fleet, ostensibly for a voyage of discovery. Storms and desertions soon ended the project. In 1580, Raleigh served in Ireland, suppressing the rebels in Munster. In 1595, Raleigh embarked on an expedition with the adventurer-scholar Laurence Kemys to find the fabled city of El Dorado . They penetrated 300 miles up the Orinoco River into the interior of Guiana, bringing home specimens containing gold. Raleigh published his Discovery of Guiana the following year. In 1596 he commanded a squadron in the English expedition against Cádiz.
A beautiful elaborate fleur de lis scrollwork decorative border surrounds the image, with a tiny vignette at the top of the portrait image. The vignette may represent the family coat of arms or crest. The celtic like ornamental perimeter scrollwork surrounding the portrait is a beautiful work of art, typical of a John Tallis type production. A great historical portrait print for a genealogy buff looking for family heritage or royalty type prints.
CONDITION: Excellent Condition. Portrait Image area is clean, clear and sharp with beautiful detail and in Excellent Condition. Blank on Reverse side and printed heavier paper. This beautiful print would look great matted and framed. |
