1676
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Title Page to "The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine" by John Speed is a 1676 ink by Robert White, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a grand stage-like frame with four figures standing in arches. At the center is a muscular man holding a scroll, labeled "BRITANNIA." On either side are two smaller figures—one in Roman armor, one in medieval clothes—with labels "A ROMANE" and "A SAXON." Below, two more figures stand in niches: one labeled "A DANE," the other "A NORMAN." The background has clouds and classical statues, while the bottom text reads *"The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine."* The print mixes history and myth, showing different groups that shaped Britain. The central figure, Britannia, is a symbol of the island itself. The whole scene looks like a map’s front page, blending geography with storytelling. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like White carved these sharp lines.
Robert White (1645 – 1703) was an English draughtsman and engraver. A Londoner, he was a pupil of David Loggan, and became a leading portrait engraver. White was celebrated for his original portraits, drawn in pencil on…
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