Item 16: Engraving of “John Wilkes Esq[ui]r[e], by unknown, [1768]

Item — Box: 6, Folder: 16

Staff Only

Engraving of “John Wilkes Esq[ui]r[e], by unknown, [1768]

Dates

Created: [1768]

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Engraving

Condition Note:

Excellent.

Measurements:

6 in. x 3 ⅞ in. {portrait}; 15 in. x 11 in. {backing}

Title:

John Wilkes Esq.r

Description:

This is an engraving of John Wilkes (1725-1797), depicting him in a full length figure, seated at a desk with a quill and a copy of the Magna Carta. He is wearing a three-piece ensemble with slicked back hair. These inclusions likely point to the man’s principles of liberty and freedom. The artist behind the engraving is unknown. However, this engraving has been found in a copy of The Iliad by Homer. This edition of Homer’s poem, Homeri Ilias, id est, de rebus ad Trojam gestis. Editio postrema, in which it is inserted, was printed by Cambridge University in 1686, by its printer at the time, John Hayes. This may be due to a connection of interest on the man’s part, as the University of Michigan’s collection, The John Wilkes Papers, 1741-1790, indicates that in their earliest letter, Wilkes discusses the Iliad with his brother, Israel. The collection notes that Wilkes stated, “he analyzed a phrase in the Iliad and found that it was not grand enough for his taste” (University of Michigan).It appears that Wilkes may have had the engraving printed directly into the book, as the publication date predates his life dates. There is also a penciled note and signature by Wilkes accompanying the production of the engraving, possibly indicating an ownership of the 1686 edition digitized on Google Books.

There appears to also be a different print that dramatized his facial features in a caricature, circulated between 1763-1800. The British Library has a digitized version of it on their website. In comparing the two, you can see how his facial features have been exaggerated to heighten his crossed eye and softened his jaw compared with the printing above of the Google Book and British Library edition in The Iliad, as well as our edition, which gives him a fuller face that does not seek to isolate or exaggerate any features. The date has been inferred in connection with this caricature print that was circulating during 1768, as well as in connection with a similar print digitized on the British Library’s website, which lists production as 1768.