Secondary sourcePainting1738
Francis Bacon, Engraving by C. Cook after Houbraken
C. Cook after Jacobus Houbraken · 1738
An 1738 engraving of Francis Bacon made by C. Cook after a portrait by Jacobus Houbraken, used to spread his likeness long after his death.
This later engraving reproduces an earlier portrait of Bacon, showing his lasting fame as a thinker and statesman.
About this source
What it is
This engraving of Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans, was made in 1738 by C. Cook, copying an earlier portrait by the engraver Jacobus Houbraken. It shows Bacon with curly hair, a wide-brimmed hat and a large lace collar, captioned 'LORD BACON'. It is held by the Wellcome Collection in London.
Why it matters
Houbraken's original portrait of Bacon was widely reproduced, and this later copy shows how prints kept historical figures visually present for new generations over a century after their deaths. It reflects how Bacon was remembered as a major English thinker and statesman well into the 18th century.
Look closer
- Why might an image be copied by a different engraver more than a century after the subject died?
- What does the formal dress and caption suggest about how Bacon was regarded in 1738?
- How reliable do you think this image is as a record of Bacon's real appearance?
This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Francis Bacon on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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