Title page to R. Brathwait, A Survey of History
1638
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 16.3 × 11.6 cm (6 7/16 × 4 9/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1951.11.481
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the National Gallery of, where we spotlight William Marshall's intricate engraving, the *Title page to R. Brathwait, A Survey of History* from1638. Created by the prolific English engraver William Marshall active during the turbulent reign of Charles I, this small yet masterful print (16.3 × 11.6 cm) served as the grand frontispiece for Richard Brathwait's scholarly work on history. Brathwait, a poet and moralist, explored historical narratives in an era of political unrest, making this title page a portal to 17th-century intellectual life. Marshall's engraving technique—carving fi...
About the Artist
William Marshall
**William Edgar Marshall (1837–1906)** was a preeminent American engraver and portrait painter, renowned for his meticulous line engravings on steel that captured the dignity and character of his subjects. Born in New York City to Scottish parents, Marshall began his career young, apprenticing at age seventeen in a watch-case factory before honing his skills engraving portraits at the U.S. Treasur...