Portrait of Caius Gabriel Cibber - Alexander Bannerman

An eighteenth-century engraving by Alexander Bannerman depicting the sculptor Caius Gabriel Cibber, holding the tools of his trade.

This engraving by Alexander Bannerman depicts the sculptor Caius Gabriel Cibber (1630-1700). The work is a characteristic example of eighteenth-century portrait printmaking, intended for inclusion in biographical collections or historical catalogues. Bannerman employs a precise, linear technique to render the textures of Cibber's period clothing and the soft modelling of his features. The subject is presented within an oval frame, a common convention of the era that provides a sense of formal distance and focus.

Cibber, a Danish-born sculptor who settled in London, is best remembered for his work at the Bethlehem Hospital, specifically the figures of 'Raving Madness' and 'Melancholy'. In this portrait, Bannerman includes a pair of dividers in Cibber's hand, a traditional attribute of the sculptor or architect, signifying his profession and technical skill. The composition is balanced and restrained, typical of the period's preference for clarity and order. The lower portion of the print features a pedestal-like base with the name 'CIBBER' inscribed, reinforcing the commemorative nature of the image.

Bannerman was an active engraver in London during the mid-eighteenth century, often contributing to publications such as Horace Walpole's 'Anecdotes of Painting in England'. His work demonstrates the technical proficiency required to translate painted portraits into the medium of engraving for wider dissemination. The print captures the intellectual and professional identity of the sculptor, offering a glimpse into the artistic circles of the Restoration period through the lens of a later eighteenth-century interpreter. The inclusion of French text beneath the image suggests its circulation within a broader European context, reflecting the international interest in British artistic history during this period.