Oliver Cromwell
1651 to 1700
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 24 × 18 cm (9 7/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.14.336
Art Historical Context
This engraving by George Bickham Sr. captures Oliver Cromwell, the influential English military leader and Lord Protector who shaped the mid-17th century during the English Civil War and Interregnum. Created between 1651 and 1700, the print offers a window into how Cromwell’s image was disseminated after his rise to power, reflecting the era’s turbulent politics and shifting public perceptions of authority. As an engraving, this work exemplifies a technique prized for its precision and ability to produce multiple impressions, allowing portraits to reach wide audiences through books, pamphlets...