William Faithorne the Elder(1616 - May 13, 1691), British painter and engraver, was born in London; He was the apprentice of Robert Peake, himself a painter and an art dealer, who was ennobled by Charles I.
Faithorne was born in London and was apprenticed to William Peake. On the outbreak of the Civil War Faithorne accompanied his master into the king's service, and being made prisoner at Basing House, he was confined for some time to Aldersgate, where, however, he was permitted to follow his profession of engraver, and among other portraits did a small one of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.
At the earnest solicitation of his friends Faithorne very soon regained his liberty, but only on condition of retiring to France, where he received instruction from Robert Nanteuil. He was permitted to return to England in about 1650, and took a shop near Temple Bar, where, besides his work as an engraver, he carried on a large business as a print-seller.
When the First English Revolution broke out, he accompanied his master to the king's service; He was taken prisoner at Basinghouse, then locked up for some time at Aldersgate, where, however, he was allowed to pursue his profession of engraver; Among other portraits, he made that of Georges Villiers, first Duke of Buckingham.
Thanks to the insistence of his friends, he soon found freedom, but on the express condition that he left England to settle in France. There, he is fortunate to be trained by Robert Nanteuil. He was permitted to return to England around 1650, and opened a shop near Temple Bar, where, in parallel with his engraving, he carried on an important trade in prints.
In 1680 Faithorne gave up his shop and retired to a house in Blackfriars, occupying himself chiefly in painting portraits from the life in crayons, although still occasionally engaged in engraving. It is said that his life was shortened by the misfortunes, dissipation, and early death of his son William. He was buried in the church of St Ann Blackfriars on 13 May 1691.
Faithorne is especially noted as a portrait engraver, his subjects including Sir Henry Spelman, Oliver Cromwell, Henry Somerset, Marquis of Worcester, John Milton, Queen Catherine, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Cardinal Richelieu, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Thomas Hobbes, Richard Hooker, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles I. The 1911 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica describes Faithorne's engravings as "remarkable for their combination of freedom and strength with softness and delicacy", adding that "his crayon paintings unite to these the additional quality of clear and brilliant colouring".
In 1658 Faithorne engraved a large map of London which had been drawn by the Somerset landowner Richard Newcourt. Printed on four sheets, it provides important evidence for the geography of the City before the Great Fire. In 1662 he issued a translation of Abraham Bosse’s treatise, under the title of The art of graveing and etching, wherein is exprest the true way of graveing in copper. Also the manner and method of ... Callot and Mr. Bosse in their severall ways of etching".
Faithorne's son, William Faithorne the younger (1656–86), was a promising mezzotint engraver, but became idle and dissipated, and involved his father in financial difficulties.
The best account of the Faithorne family is that contained in Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting. A "life of Faithorne the Elder" is preserved in the British Museum among the papers of John Bagford, Faithorne's close friend and Lord Oxford librarian.
Faithorne is particularly known as a portrait painter; He counted amongst whom he painted a large number of eminent personalities, such as Sir Henry Spelman, Olivier Cromwell, Henry Somerset, Marquis of Worcester, John Milton, Queen Catherine, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Cardinal de Richelieu , Sir Thomas Fairfax, Thomas Hobbes, Richard Hooker, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Ier.
All his works are remarkable in a style that combines freedom and strength with softness and delicacy, and his pastels adds bright and luminous colors.
He translated into English the Abraham Bosse's treatise on the art of engraving (which disseminated the technical innovations of Jacques Callot in Europe) under the title The art of graveing and etching, . (London, 1662), that is to say "Trait of the ways of engraving on the air by means of etchings . Also the manner and method of Messieurs Callot and Bosse in their various ways of engraving with etching "(London, 1662).
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