John Faber the Elder

John Faber the Elder (c.1660–1721) British mezzotint engraver, portrait miniaturist, and draughtsman John Faber the Elder, also known as John Faber Sr., was a Dutch-born artist who became a leading figure in early British mezzotint portraiture. Born in the Netherlands around 1660, he originally worked in fine pen and ink, creating delicate portrait drawings on vellum. After relocating to England sometime after 1696, Faber established himself in London, with his earliest recorded work appearing in 1698. Around 1707, he adopted the mezzotint technique and began publishing prints from his premises at "Two Golden Balls, near the Savoy in the Strand." By 1716, he had moved his operation to the "Golden Eagle by the Fountain tavern, near Essex Street." His career flourished as he became known for engraving portraits of notable figures, including a celebrated 1711–12 series of Bodleian Library portraits and, from 1712 to 1714, a series depicting the founders of Oxford and Cambridge colleges. Faber's work combined artistic finesse with wide public appeal, helping to popularize the mezzotint in Britain. He passed away in Bristol in 1721, leaving behind a significant legacy and a thriving print business, which was continued by his son, John Faber the Younger (or John Faber II).