Abraham Cowley
(1618-1667), PoetSitter associated with 37 portraits
A prolific poet, Cowley had a profound impact upon later seventeenth-century poetry. His reputation was short-lived however and had waned by the mid-eighteenth century. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, his first volume of verse, Poetical Blossoms, was published in 1633 when he was fifteen and included poems written from the age of ten. As a Royalist during the English civil wars he was deprived of his Cambridge fellowship in 1643. He joined King Charles I at Oxford before following Queen Henrietta Maria to France as her secretary. On the Restoration she granted him land. He studied medicine and became an MD in 1657, thereafter living in retirement, studying botany and writing essays.
after Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1660
NPG 74
by Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, circa 1666-1667
On display at Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley
NPG 4215
Unknown man, formerly known as Abraham Cowley
attributed to Mary Beale
oil on canvas
NPG 659
after Robert Vaughan
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D33708
after Robert Vaughan
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D33709
after Robert Vaughan
etching, mid 17th century
NPG D33710
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1668
NPG D22708
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1668
NPG D30139
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1668
NPG D33713
by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1668 or after
NPG D33714
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1668
NPG D42264
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1668
NPG D42464
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1668
NPG D42466
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th to early 18th century
NPG D27291
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D22709
by William Faithorne, after Mary Beale
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D30136
by William Faithorne, after Mary Beale
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D30142
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D33711
Monument to Abraham Cowley in Westminster Abbey
by Robert White, printed for Charles Harper, and printed for Jacob Tonson I
line engraving, published 1681
NPG D33715
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1687
NPG D22710
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1687
NPG D33712
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1687
NPG D42465
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1687
NPG D19532
after Unknown artist
hand-coloured line engraving, published 1700
NPG D30138
after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D30140
by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, circa 1709-1755 (circa 1660)
NPG D30137
by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, circa 1709-1755 (circa 1660)
NPG D33716
by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, circa 1709-1755 (circa 1660)
NPG D34195
by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
engraving, circa 1709-1755 (circa 1660)
NPG D14553
after Unknown artist
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D1565
after Robert Vaughan
pen and ink, (1633)
NPG D2121
by John Hall, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D27295
after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D30141
by John Romney, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D27294
by James Basire
line engraving, 1813
NPG D34194
by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
engraving, engraved 1730 (circa 1660)
NPG D20243
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