Antonius Van Dyck Eques pinxit. P. Lombart Sculpsit et ex.
Londini avec Pri. du Roy et ex. parisis. [n.d. c.1660.]
Fine engraving. 349 x 260mm (13¾ x 10¼"). Trimmed.
Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle (1599-1660) was an English courtier known for her beauty and wit. She was involved in many political intrigues during the English Civi War, and became second wife to James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle. She is known for disclosing to her cousin Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex of the King's intended arrest of the five members of Long Parliament, which enabled Essex and the other to escape. Lombart's most famous work was the series of twelve portraits after van Dyck that he engraved around 1660, often known as the 'Countesses' from the Latin of their titles. Mariette in his entry on Lombart in his Abecedario stated that this set alone would suffice to place him 'au rang des premiers graveurs'. All twelve plates are the same size, and show three-quarter-length figures, ten women and two men, in 15mm wide borders that imitate frames of the period.
[Ref: 24660]  £180.00