John Milton, Age 21
Engraver George Vertue British
Sitter John Milton British
Not on view
Shown aged twenty-one, the poet wears a ruff and is surrounded by an elaborate frame. Below, busts of Homer and Virgil sit over a poem by Dryden. Created as the frontispiece for a volume published by George Vertue in 1731, this is a 1747 reissue with the poem added. The image derives from an anonymous oil portrait now at the National Portrait Gallery, London.