Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
(1689-1741), Patron of letters and collectorEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 12 portraits
Edward Harley entered Christ Church, Oxford in 1707 and succeeded to the title as 2nd Earl of Oxford in 1724. He was a patron of Pope, Swift, Prior and Vertue. His great library, started by his father and described by Samuel Johnson as excelling any offered for sale, was dispersed in 1742, but the celebrated (Harleian) manuscripts were bought for the British Museum in 1753 from the dowager countess.
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
attributed to Jonathan Richardson
oil on canvas, circa 1725
NPG 1808
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
engraving, 1745 (1728)
NPG D39488
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
engraving, 1745 (1728)
NPG D5447
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
engraving, 1745 (1728)
NPG D15991
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
line engraving, 1746 (1728)
NPG D21324
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
engraving, 1746 (1728)
NPG D5445
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
line engraving, 1746 (1728)
NPG D16242
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
after Michael Dahl
mezzotint, published 1809
NPG D39487
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
after Michael Dahl
mezzotint, published 1809
NPG D3794
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
engraving, 1745 (1728)
NPG D5448
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
engraving, 1745 (1728)
NPG D19480
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford
by George Vertue, after Michael Dahl
line engraving, 1746 (1728)
NPG D20419
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.