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Harvard College Bookplate with the Christo et Ecclesiæ Seal

Nathaniel Hurd

1765

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Harvard College Bookplate with the Christo et Ecclesiæ Seal is a 1765 ink by Nathaniel Hurd, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Nathaniel Hurd
When & what style?: 1765 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a fancy coat of arms with a shield, books, and a sun on top. Swirly lines frame the whole thing like a crown. Below the shield, words wrap around in a banner. At the bottom, a name—*Thorndike*—and the year *1818* are written in cursive. Two globes sit on either side, and a face peeks out from the bottom corners. The shield has a pyramid shape with a cross on top, and the words around it say things like *"Harvard College"* and *"1630."* This was likely made for a book owned by Harvard. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints with just metal and ink.