Jacobus Houbraken

Jacobus was born in Dordrecht, and learned the art of engraving from his father. In 1707 he moved to Amsterdam, where for years he helped his father with his magnum opus, his art historical work The Great Theatre of Dutch Painters (1718–1721). When his father died he assisted his mother with the last proofs of the manuscript before publishing. With this project he started his portraits of Netherlandish celebrities, that are today in many cases the only likenesses left of these people. He was influenced by studying the works of Cornelis Cort, Jonas Suyderhoef, Gerard Edelinck and the Visschers. He died, aged 81, in Amsterdam.

Houbraken devoted himself almost entirely to portraiture. His work became famous through his collaboration with the historian Thomas Birch and artist George Vertue, on the project entitled, Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, published in parts in London from 1743 to 1752. After that, during the years 1752–59 he worked with the historian Jan Wagenaar (1709–1773) on his 21 part Vaderlandsche historie, working for the publisher Isaac Tirion in Amsterdam. With this project of biographies of celebrated figures, he annotated his work with notes about the original paintings.

Among his best works are scenes from the comedy of "De Ontdekte Schijndeugd", executed in his eightieth year, after Cornelis Troost, who was called by his countrymen the Dutch Hogarth. Houbraken also engraved the portraits for Jan van Gool's Nieuwe schouburg der Nederlantsche kunstschilders (Den Haag, 1750–51).

His oeuvre of more than 400 portrait engravings form an important record for art provenance. His portraits were often set in an oval frame, with a subtitle with the subject's claim to fame. Under that in small letters, he placed his notes about the original oil portrait. Some examples:

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  J. Houbraken fecit na't Schilderij by de WelEd:Gestr:Hr.Mr. G. de Graeff, Schepen en Raad der Stad Amsterdam.
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  Miereveld pinx. Schouman del. J. Houbraken fecit
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  H. Pothoven del. naar eene Schilderij by den Hr. Burg.r Hasselaer J. Houbraken fecit
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  A. Schoumen del. naar't Origineel in de Familie J. Houbraken fec
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  B. van der Helst pinxit J. Houbraken sculpsit, Oud 82 jaar H. Pothoven del. na't Originele Schilderij, waar in dezelve voorkomt als Kapitein der Burgerij, berustend op de Krijgsraadskamer van't Stadhuis te Amsterdam.
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  Portrait of the Amsterdam artist Joanna Koerten, (1650–1715)
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  Samuel Coster (1579-1665)

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Houbraken, Jacobus". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Ver Huell, A., Jacobus Houbraken et son œuvre (Arnhem, 1875), includes a full description of 120 engraved works.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jacob Houbraken.

• National Portrait Gallery - Person - Jacobus Houbraken