Lot 1: John Faber the Elder (1660-1720)

John Faber the Elder (1660-1720)
Portrait of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), bust- length
inscribed 'Duke of Marlborough &c.:' (in the margin)
pen and ink, on vellum, unframed
4¼ x 4¼ in. (10.5 x 10.5 cm.)

Lumnitzer-Brünn Collection.
Vienna, Dorotheum, 29 September 2004, lot 181.

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John Faber was born in Holland but came to London in circa 1687, establishing a shop on the Strand by 1707. His output consists mainly of engraved portraits of monarchs and other notable historical figures. The present drawing is therefore probably a study for an engraved portrait, and is very similar to an engraving of Marlborough by an unknown artist in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG D5209). John Churchill was created Duke of Marlborough in 1707 by Queen Anne (1665-1714), to whom his wife Sarah (1660-1744) was companion; but he had already been honoured with the title Earl of Marlborough by King William III (1650-1702) in 1689. Marlborough is best remembered for leading the victorious British force against the French near the German village of Blenheim in 1704, and for his great palace, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) and named after the battle, which was originally intended to be a reward to Churchill from a thankful nation.