Who painted Portrait of Thomas Hobbes?

Portrait of Thomas Hobbes was painted by Samuel Cooper in 1660.

Where can I see Portrait of Thomas Hobbes?

Portrait of Thomas Hobbes is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of Thomas Hobbes?

Portrait of Thomas Hobbes is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Portrait of Thomas Hobbes

Samuel Cooper , 1660

Portrait of Thomas Hobbes is an unspecified portrait miniature by the Baroque artist Samuel Cooper. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This portrait miniature depicts Thomas Hobbes, a prominent philosopher, in his seventies.

About this work

He was in his seventies when this was made, and the artist left most of the painting unfinished.

You see an old man with thin gray hair, a mustache, and a small beard. His eyes look straight at you. Only his head is fully painted—the rest is just a faint sketch of a plain collar.

This is Thomas Hobbes, the philosopher who wrote *Leviathan*. He was in his seventies when this was made, and the artist left most of the painting unfinished. That gives it a quick, almost modern feel, like a snapshot.

If you like this, look up other portraits from england, 17th century. They often show people just like this—direct, unpolished, and full of character.

Overview

This portrait miniature depicts Thomas Hobbes, a prominent philosopher, in his seventies. The painting is unfinished, with only Hobbes' head fully rendered, while the rest of the figure is sketched with a thin gray wash.

Subject & Meaning

Hobbes, born in 1588, was a key figure in social contract theory, advocating for a strong sovereign in his influential 1651 book Leviathan. As a royalist, he fled to France during the English Civil War, returning after its conclusion.

Technique & Style

The miniature portrait features Hobbes with thin gray hair and a mustache and goatee, gazing directly at the viewer. The unfinished state of the painting, with a loosely sketched collar, lends it a sense of immediacy.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted by Cooper, a friend of Hobbes, who depicted him on at least two occasions. Hobbes' association with Cooper and his prominence as a thinker underscore the significance of this work.

Context

This portrait is characteristic of 17th-century English portraiture, often marked by directness and a lack of embellishment, capturing the subject's character.