Portrait of philosopher John Locke, 1734 print

What it is

This 1734 engraved portrait shows John Locke as an older man with shoulder-length wavy hair, set in an ornate oval frame. Below the portrait are his coat of arms and a four-line verse in Latin. It was engraved by E. Morellon la Cave and is held by the Rijksmuseum.

Why it matters

Made decades after Locke's death, this print shows how his image continued to be reproduced and honoured long after he died in 1704. The Latin verse and coat of arms reflect the formal, respectful way European print culture commemorated scholars and philosophers of lasting importance.

Look closer

• Why do you think printmakers kept making new portraits of Locke decades after his death?
• What might the coat of arms and Latin verse tell us about how Locke was regarded by educated Europeans?
• How does this image compare with other portraits of Locke made closer to his lifetime?