William Faithorne

William Faithorne (1616–1691), known as one of the leading English engravers of the 17th century, was celebrated for his refined portraiture and technical mastery. Apprenticed to William Peake, he supported the Royalist cause during the Civil War and was briefly imprisoned before being exiled to France, where he studied under Robert Nanteuil. Returning to London around 1650, he opened a shop near Temple Bar, working both as an engraver and print-seller. His portraits of prominent figures—such as Oliver Cromwell, John Milton, and Prince Rupert—are noted for their balance of strength and delicacy, while his 1658 engraving of Richard Newcourt’s map of London remains a vital record of the city before the Great Fire. In his later years, he focused on crayon portraiture and retired to Blackfriars, where he died in 1691, his final years marred by the troubles of his son, William Faithorne the younger.