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![Thomas Wilson (1523/4-1581) [not as inscribed Nicholas Bacon] Secretary of State, diplomat and humanist](images\larger\11237.jpg)
Federico Zuccaro
Thomas Wilson (1523/4-1581) [not as inscribed Nicholas Bacon] Secretary of State, diplomat and humanist
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| Artist | Federico Zuccaro (1540-1609) |
| Artist / Engraver | Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) |
| Title | Thomas Wilson (1523/4-1581) [not as inscribed Nicholas Bacon] Secretary of State, diplomat and humanist |
| Title Publication Title | The Heads and Characters of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain |
| Date | 1738 |
| Medium | Engraving |
| Exhibition | "One, No One and One Hundred Thousand" Curated by Francesca Sarno, Government Art Collection, London, 26/4-6/5/2011. |
| Lettering | around portrait: S.R NICHOLAS BACON LORD KEEPER ; below image: [left[ J. Houbraken sculps. Amst. [centre] In the Collection of his Grace the Duke of Bedford [right] Frederico Zucchero pinx. / Impensis I. & P. Knapton 1738. |
| Published | "The Heads and Characters of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", J. & P. Knapton, London 1743-52 |
| Acquisition | Presented by Dr. Peter Rusk, November 1973 |
| Location | UK, London, Government Art Collection |
| GAC number | 11237 |
Other works by this artist
 | Sir Francis Walsingham (1530-1590) statesman; Prin... | Engraving published 1738 GAC 15921 |
| Sir Nicholas Bacon (1509-79) Lord Keeper of the Gr... | Engraving published 1743-1752 GAC 16649 | |
 | An Unknown Lady | Oil on canvas GAC 281 |
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This work contains the following subjects; choose a subject below to cross-refer to other works in the collection:
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 | Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland (1577-1635) d... | Oil on canvas GAC 0/19 |
 | Portrait of a Lady | Oil on canvas c.1619-1622 GAC 0/57 |
 | Philips de Sadeleer (born 1560/1), merchant | Oil on panel 1599 GAC 0/85 |
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 | Man in a Skull Cap Aged 59 in 1608 | Oil on panel 1608 GAC 16 |
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This work contains the following Sitters; choose a link below to cross-refer to other works in the collection:
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Thomas Wilson
 | Thomas Wilson (1525-1581) Secretary of State, dipl... | Oil on canvas 17th century GAC 1267 |
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Federico Zuccaro was born in the Marches, the son of Ottaviano. From 10/11 he worked in his brother Taddeo’s studio in Rome. He later moved to Venice and then Florence, becoming a member of the Accademia del Disegno. He returned to Rome after Taddeo’s death. After a spell in Paris, he visited to London in 1575 and was introduced to the court of Elizabeth I. (His drawings of Dudley and Elizabeth are in the British Museum.) He later completed Vasari’s frescoes in the Cupola, Florence. In 1579 he worked on Pope Gregory XIII’s chapel. He was expelled from Rome for displaying a satirical image. He worked in Venice and Spain, before becoming first principal of the Accademia di San Luca. In his final years he published his autobiography (1605).
Flemish engraver Jacobus Houbraken was born in Dordrecht; the son of engraver Arnold Houbraken (1660-1719). He engraved portraits after contemporary artists and Old Master painters. Houbraken produced plates for the third edition of ‘History of England’ (1743-47), written by army officer and historian Paul de Rapin (1661-1725), and for ‘The Heads of the Illustrious Persons of Great Britain’ (1743-52), written by historian and biographer Thomas Birch (1705-1766). For both publications the book illustrator and engraver Hubert-François Gravelot (1699-1773) produced the ornamental surrounds for Houbraken's portraits.