Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cecil, Thomas (fl.1630)

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CECIL, THOMAS (fl. 1630), engraver, has the credit, rare in artists of his period, of being an Englishman. Beyond this there is not much to be said. John Evelyn speaks highly of him, and he seems to have been well thought of by his contemporaries. He was working in London 1627–35. The portrait of Henry VIII prefixed to some copies of the first edition of Lord Herbert of Cherbury's ‘History of Henry’ is by Cecil. His best works are portraits, often from his own drawings, ‘executed entirely with the graver.’ His ‘Queen Elizabeth on Horseback’ is the most important of these. ‘His works are neat in finish, but stiff and wanting in taste; his drawing of the figure weak and incorrect, the extremities bad.’

[Vertue's Cat. of Engravers, 1794; Walpole's Anecdotes of Painters, iii. 875, ed. 1849; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists.]