Antique Engraving Portrait of Sir Robert Cotton, Founder of Cotton Library 1744

An antique engraved portrait of Sir Robert Cotton (1571–1631), the distinguished English antiquarian, collector, and founder of the Cottonian Library — a cornerstone of today’s British Library manuscript collection. Depicted in ruff and gown, hand upon his chest, with an open book before him. The lower panel bears Latin inscriptions and the Cotton coat of arms, celebrating his legacy as a preserver of historical knowledge. A fine and scholarly engraving, ideal for collectors of library history, antiquarian scholarship, and antique prints.

Size : 23x37 cm