Portrait of Richard Hooker, c.1662

A line engraving of Richard Hooker, by William Faithorne, c.1662.

Image shows a black and white rectangular engraving featuring a small image of a white elderly male in an oval frame. This bust-length portrait has the sitter positioned facing the left and looking directly at the artist. He is dressed in a black ecclesiastical robe with small white ruff. He wears a pointed black cap and has trimmed white facial hair. This sits within a depicted portico with semi-circular façade at the top, decorated pillars beneath and resting on a plinth. Nude busts of women are on either side of the pillars, along with crosses and books. Two winged cherubim rest either side of the oval portrait, holding a laurel wreath above the sitter. Two globes rest underneath them, and below the plinth is a large panel of Latin text. This reads:

‘RICHARDUS HOOKER Exoniensis scholaris sociusqe Collegij Corp: Christi Oxon: deinde Londi: Templi interioris in sacris magister, Rectorqe huius Ecclesia, scripsit octo libros Politice Ecclesiasticce Angliacanae, quorum tres desi: derantur: Obijt An: Do: M.DC.III. Aetat: suae L. Posuit hoc pijssimo niro monumentum Ano: Do: M.DC. XXX.V. Guli: Cowper Armiger, in Christo Iesu quem genuit per Evangelium. 1 Corinth: 4. 15.’

This which roughly translates to:

“Richard Hooker, a scholar of Exeter, a member of the College of Corpus
Christi, Oxford, and then of London, a master of the inner temple in the sacred places,
Rector of this Church, wrote eight books on Ecclesiastical Politics.” In the bottom right
corner, small italic text reads ‘Guil: Faithorne Sculp:’

Richard Hooker (1554-1600) was born in Heavitree, Exeter, and attended Exeter Grammar School until 1569. His uncle served as the chamberlain of Exeter, whose connections saw Hooker accepted into Oxford University, graduating in 1577. In 1581, he became a clergyman in the Church of England and was Master of the Temple (Dean of the Law School) between 1585-1591. He is most known for his hugely influential and culturally-significant theological works, often cited as “one of the most distinguished examples of Elizabethan literature”, published throughout his life and posthumously as recently as October 2022.

This particular engraving by William Faithorne (c.1620-1691), appointed ‘engraver in copper’ to Charles II in 1660, was used as a frontispiece to the publication The Works of Mr. Richard Hooker, (That Learned, Godly, Judicious, and Eloquent Divine) Vindicating the CHURCH OF ENGLAND, As truly Christian, and duly Reformed: In Eight BOOKS of ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY. The rest of the sub-heading reads: ‘Now completed, As with the Sixth and Eighth, so with the SEVENTH, (touching Episcopacy, as the Primitive, Catholick and Apostolick Government of the Church) out of his own Manuscripts, never before Published. With an account of his Holy Life, and Happy Death, Written by Dr. John Gauden, now Bishop of Exeter. The entire Edition Dedicated to the Kings Most Excellent Majestie, Charls the II. By whole ROYAL FATHER (near His Martyrdom) the former Five Books (then onely extant) were commended to his dear Children, as an excellent means to satisfie Private Scruples, and settle the Publique Peace of this Church and Kingdom. London, Printed by J. Best, for Andrew Crook, at the Green Dragon in S. Pauls Church-yard. 1662.’ A sculpture of Hooker by Alfred Drury (1856-1944) was unveiled in 1907, and since its reposition in 2010, can be found outside Exeter Cathedral and near the Devon and Exeter Institution. Another public art project dedicated to Hooker –the Heavitree Arch, which features quotations from Hooker’s works across the glass and paving– can be found in Heavitree.

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