Antique 1806 Engraving of Hugo Grotius – Founder of International Law

A rare and beautifully executed antique copperplate engraving of Hugo Grotius (1583–1645), the renowned Dutch jurist, philosopher, and scholar, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of international law. This portrait was published in London on July 1st, 1806 by J. Wilkes and engraved by J. Chapman.
Grotius is depicted in formal 17th-century attire, including an elaborately detailed lace ruff collar. Beneath the portrait is a symbolic cartouche scene showing a classical-style narrative—possibly referencing Grotius’s famous escape from prison in a book chest or his allegorical importance in justice and diplomacy.
This engraving is a rare tribute to one of Europe’s most intellectually influential minds, celebrated for his work De Jure Belli ac Pacis (On the Law of War and Peace), which laid the groundwork for the modern concept of international legal order.
Size 11x16 cm