Art

Beautiful engraving of the Court of Wards and Liveries in session, eleven men seated round the table, while others look on. The engraver, George Vertue has copied this from a contemporary original. He identifies Lord Burghley as the man at the head of the table and, in a lengthy text below the engraving, he deduces who the other figures seated round the table are. In the days before photography, engravings such as this were how visual historical records were kept. George Vertue, was employed by the Society of Antiquaries for this task, and made many engravings from paintings, plans and maps. Copper engraving. Original outline colour. Size: 58 x 44 cm. (23 x 17½ inches).