Archibald Bower Esq.r.
George Knapton pinx.t. J.s Mc.Ardell fecit.
[n.d., c.1760.]
Mezzotint. 350 x 250 (14 x 10"), with large margins, ink stamp of the Duke of Cambridge's collection lower right.
A portrait of Scottish historian Archibald Bower (1686-1766) shown in his library. A religious controversialist and historical writer born near Dundee, Bower entered the Society of Jesus in Rome and lectured at Jesuit colleges in Italy before suddenly leaving Perugia to return to England, allegedly having been discovered in a love affair with a nun. In England Bower converted to the Church of England and wrote about bibliographic history and ancient Rome. His 'History of the Popes', a violent attack on papal supremacy, was published between 1748 and the 1760s. During the publication of the work letters emerged purporting to show that despite his protestant zeal Bower was flirting with Catholicism, shattering his reputation.
CS 27 (only state); Whitman 174 ii/ii; L.151.
[Ref: 58003] £260.00
[n.d., c.1760.]
Mezzotint. 350 x 250 (14 x 10"), with large margins, ink stamp of the Duke of Cambridge's collection lower right.
A portrait of Scottish historian Archibald Bower (1686-1766) shown in his library. A religious controversialist and historical writer born near Dundee, Bower entered the Society of Jesus in Rome and lectured at Jesuit colleges in Italy before suddenly leaving Perugia to return to England, allegedly having been discovered in a love affair with a nun. In England Bower converted to the Church of England and wrote about bibliographic history and ancient Rome. His 'History of the Popes', a violent attack on papal supremacy, was published between 1748 and the 1760s. During the publication of the work letters emerged purporting to show that despite his protestant zeal Bower was flirting with Catholicism, shattering his reputation.
CS 27 (only state); Whitman 174 ii/ii; L.151.
[Ref: 58003] £260.00