Portrait of William Ramesey from "Astrologia Restaurata. an Introduction to the knowledge of the Stars".

RAMESEY, William (ca 1626-1675). CROSS, Thomas (ca 1644-1685).

Published by [London: Robert White, 1663].

About this Item

Original engraved copper printing plate (9 x 5 6/8 inches) for the fine frontispiece portrait of William Ramesey engraved by Thomas Cross and published in "Astrologia Restaurata", accompanied by a copy of the frontispiece ruled in red for presentation (mounted and matted). Ramesey was a renowned English astrologer; author of a number of books on subjects as diverse as the human soul and intestinal worms; and Physician in Ordinary to King Charles II from 1668. In his "to the Judicious Reader" of "Astrologia." Ramesey (or, Ramsey) gives a long and detailed account of his early life. He was the son of David Ramsey (died 1658) the celebrated clockmaker to James I and Charles I, educated at Montpellier and Cambridge and elected license holder of the Royal College of Surgeons. In "Astrologia." he vindicates."this liberal science of Natural Philosophy vulgarly known by the name of Astrology by reason it declares the motions and words or language of the stars; from the Greek. because their various and constant influences dictate unto us dayly new things or mutations in the Elements or Elemental bodies." (from "to the Judicious Reader"). This fine portrait, a copy of which is in the National Portrait Gallery in London, shows Ramesey beneath a large oak tree pointing towards the heavenly zodiacal sphere above. Beneath the portrait the artist, the celebrated portraitist Thomas Cross, has written: "The Graver here Doth shew his Dextrious Art/ In this our Author, yet can shew but part/ of what hee is, view here his Booke and see;/ For hee doth farr transcend great Ptolemy/ and th'other Antients, nay his youthful witt/ Mongst them deserveth in the Cheare to sitt." Cross engraved numerous portraits of the celebrities and other influential people of the middle of the 17th-century, including Nicholas Culpepper, Thomas Bastwick, Richard Brownlowe etc. Many were published as frontispieces, and many are the only recorded likenesses of the sitter. Cross and his father were also the principal engravers of music of their time (DNB).

Seller Inventory # 002164

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Portrait of William Ramesey from "Astrologia Restaurata. an Introduction to the knowledge of the Stars".
• Publisher: [London: Robert White, 1663].
• Seller catalogs:
  • Astrological
  • Astronomy