Edmund Waller
- Artist: David Loggan
- Date: 1685
- Medium: graphite on vellum
- Dimensions: 5 1/2 in. x 4 3/8 in. (140 mm x 111 mm)
- Portrays: Edmund Waller
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is a graphite drawing on vellum, measuring roughly 140 mm by 111 mm, that brings us to Edmund Waller, the poet‑politician who lived from 1606 to 1687. The paper shows his face and hands in a simple yet dignified pose, his hair neatly combed and a subtle smile hinting at his later years. The light shading is delicate; Loggan uses gentle strokes that give Waller’s eyes a clear depth without overt detailing.
The artist, David Loggan (1634‑1692), was known for engraving and portraiture, producing about 191 works in his career. He captured Waller when the poet was in his late seventies, the same year he released his “Divine Poems.” In that turbulent century Waller wrote verses praising Charles I, Cromwell and Charles II, negotiating England’s political tides with words.
This drawing is a fine example of 17th‑century graphite portraiture on vellum, showing how Loggan could render a sitter’s presence with minimal strokes yet clear expression.
See it in person
Edmund Waller is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
