John Talbot, First Earl of Shrewsbury

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Thomas Cecil portrays John Talbot, the First Earl of Shrewsbury, a renowned English military commander of the fifteenth century. Created between 1551 and 1600, the print offers a posthumous tribute to Talbot’s legacy as a key figure in the Hundred Years’ War. Measuring just 18.2 by 12.3 centimeters, the compact sheet would have allowed the image to circulate widely among collectors and scholars interested in England’s storied past. As an engraving, the work exemplifies the growing importance of printmaking in the Elizabethan era. The precise lines and tonal contrasts possibl...