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Secondary sourcePainting1749

John Locke, Line Engraving after Kneller, 1749

Godfrey Kneller · 1749

An 1749 engraving of John Locke copied from Godfrey Kneller's 1697 painted portrait, published in the Universal Magazine.

This later engraving copies Kneller's portrait of Locke, showing his continuing fame decades after his death.

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Black and white line engraving of a man with long wavy hair in a dark oval frame, wearing a loose coat over a white shirt. Below are books and a cartouche reading 'JOHN LOCKE Esq.' with a caption engraved for the Universal Magazine 1749.
John Locke. Line engraving, 1749, after Sir G. Kneller, 1697. Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This engraving, made in 1749, copies a 1697 portrait of John Locke painted by Godfrey Kneller. It was produced for the Universal Magazine and is now held by the Wellcome Collection, London.

Why it matters

Decades after Locke's death, publishers still used his image to accompany articles and books, showing his lasting fame as a philosopher. The engraving shows how print culture kept historical figures visible to new readers.

Look closer

  • Why might a magazine in 1749 want to include a portrait of a philosopher who died in 1704?
  • What do the books shown below the portrait suggest about how Locke was remembered?
  • How might printing for a magazine change the way a portrait looks compared to a painting?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Locke on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of the 1690 London edition of Two Treatises of Government, printed in black letter and roman type in a bordered frame, reading 'Two Treatises of Government... an Essay concerning the True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government', printed for Awnsham Churchill at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary-Lane, by Amen-Corner, 1690.Book

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Two Treatises of Government

John Locke · 1689 (dated 1690)

Title page of the 1690 first edition of An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. Large capitals read 'AN ESSAY CONCERNING Humane Understanding. In Four Books.' A Latin epigraph from Cicero follows, then a printer's ornament and the imprint 'LONDON: Printed for Tho. Basset, and sold by Edw. Mory at the Sign of the Three Bibles in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCXC.'Book

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An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

John Locke · 1689 (dated 1690)

Sepia-toned mezzotint portrait of a man with long wavy hair, wearing a loose coat and open collar, turning slightly to his left within an oval frame of foliage. A cartouche at the bottom reads 'John Locke Esq.' with inscriptions in the lower corners.Painting

Secondary source

John Locke, Mezzotint after Godfrey Kneller

Godfrey Kneller

Title page of A Letter Concerning Toleration. Large capitals read 'A LETTER', then 'CONCERNING', then 'Toleration: Humbly Submitted, &c.' Below: 'LICENSED, October 3, 1689', then 'LONDON, Printed for Awnsham Churchill, at the Black Swan at Amen-Corner. 1689.' Faint reprint copyright text in background.Letter

Primary source

A Letter Concerning Toleration

John Locke · written 1685-1686, published 1689

Engraved oval portrait of a man with long wavy hair, wearing a loose dark gown over a white collared shirt, set in an ornate oval frame atop a pedestal bearing a coat of arms. Inscription below reads 'Effigies Iohannis Locke' with a Latin line beneath, plus artist credits 'G. Kneller Equ. pinxit 1697' and 'Geo. Vertue Sculp. 1722'.Painting

Secondary source

Portrait of John Locke, frontispiece to Works

George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller · 1722

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