Jacobus Houbraken Auction Prices and Value Guide

Jacobus Houbraken auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 356 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Jacobus Houbraken auction prices: quick answer

Jacobus Houbraken auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Jacobus Houbraken
Source records
356
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Jacobus Houbraken

Jacobus Houbraken (1698–1780) was a Dutch engraver and reproductive printmaker celebrated for his extensive series of portrait engravings of Netherlandish and British historical figures. Born in Dordrecht and trained by his father, the painter and biographer Arnold Houbraken, he moved to Amsterdam around 1707 and spent most of his career there. Houbraken helped complete his father's landmark publication The Great Theatre of Dutch Painters (1718–1721) before launching his own prolific career. His best-known collaborative work, Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain (1743–1752), undertaken with historian Thomas Birch and artist George Vertue, cemented his reputation across Britain and the Continent. Influenced by earlier masters such as Cornelis Cort and Gerard Edelinck, Houbraken produced more than 400 portrait engravings that remain vital records for art-historical provenance and the study of 17th- and 18th-century visual culture. His portraits — typically set in oval frames with biographical annotations — are held by major institutions including the Rijksmuseum, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and the British Museum.

Dutch Golden Age reproductive printmaking traditioncopper plate engravingetchingdrawingportrait engravings of prominent historical figuresNetherlandish celebrities and Dutch Golden Age artistsBritish illustrious persons

Common works and media

Houbraken's most commonly encountered works are portrait engravings executed in copper plate, typically featuring the sitter in an oval frame with an inscribed caption identifying the subject and their achievements. He engraved portraits after original paintings by artists including Bartholomeus van der Helst, Godfrey Kneller, and Gerard van Honthorst. His illustrations appear in several major 18th-century publications, including Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Jan Wagenaar's Vaderlandsche historie, and Jan van Gool's Nieuwe schouburg der Nederlantsche kunstschilders. He also produced narrative scenes after Cornelis Troost. Works are found as individual prints, bound series, and illustrations within published volumes.

Market and appraisal context

Collectors encounter Houbraken's work primarily as copper-plate portrait engravings, which appear regularly at auction in the Old Master Prints category. Value depends on the prominence of the sitter, impression quality, plate state, paper condition, and whether full margins and plate marks survive. Portraits of notable figures such as Dutch stadtholders, renowned artists, and British statesmen tend to attract stronger demand. Because Houbraken's output was large and widely disseminated, rarity varies significantly by subject. Documented provenance from notable collections can enhance value. Buyers should distinguish between original period impressions and later re-strikes.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • Houbraken produced over 400 portrait engravings, so rarity varies considerably by subject
  • Works are widely distributed across institutional and private collections, making individual impressions relatively available
  • Reproductive prints after famous painters (such as Van der Helst, Rembrandt circle, or Kneller) form a large share of his output — these are distinct from original compositions

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Jacobus Houbraken

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Jacobus Houbraken worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Jacobus Houbraken artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.