The Lively Portraicture of Sir Thomas Overbury. A mans' best fortune or his worst's a wife: Yet I, that knew not mariage peace nor strife, Live by a good, by a bad one lost my life. A wife like her I writ, man scarfe can wed: Of a false friend like mine, man scarfe hath read.
SP [Simon van de Passe] fe.
[n.d., first published c.1616, this impression later]
Engraving, with large margins, rare. Plate 120 x 70mm. 4¾ x 2¾".
Portrait of Sir Thomas Overbury (1571-1613), courtier and author, aged 32, half-length, with lace ruff, in an oval. The image is taken from a portrait in oils attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts (Oxford, Bodleian Library). Overbury was close to Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, and when the possibility of a marriage between Carr and Frances Howard arose, Overbury made clear his opposition to the match. Having acquired a reputation as a troublemaker Overbury was offered an ambassadorship overseas to remove him from court, which he declined against the king's wishes. As a result he was imprisoned in the Tower, where he died some months later. It has been thought, although not conclusively proven, that Frances Howard attempted to have him poisoned.
Ex Collection: R. Hobson of Hove.
[Ref: 25492] £160.00
[n.d., first published c.1616, this impression later]
Engraving, with large margins, rare. Plate 120 x 70mm. 4¾ x 2¾".
Portrait of Sir Thomas Overbury (1571-1613), courtier and author, aged 32, half-length, with lace ruff, in an oval. The image is taken from a portrait in oils attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts (Oxford, Bodleian Library). Overbury was close to Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, and when the possibility of a marriage between Carr and Frances Howard arose, Overbury made clear his opposition to the match. Having acquired a reputation as a troublemaker Overbury was offered an ambassadorship overseas to remove him from court, which he declined against the king's wishes. As a result he was imprisoned in the Tower, where he died some months later. It has been thought, although not conclusively proven, that Frances Howard attempted to have him poisoned.
Ex Collection: R. Hobson of Hove.
[Ref: 25492] £160.00