Biography of William Faithorne "The Elder" 1616-1691
In 1616 William Faithorne "The Elder" was born.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Jun 1660. To Mr. Crew's (age 62), whither came Mr. Greatorex (age 35), and with him to the Faithornes (age 44), and so to the Devils tavern [Map]. To my Lord's and staid till 12 at night about business. So to my father's (age 59), my father and mother in bed, who had been with my uncle Fenner, &c., and my wife all day and expected me. But I found Mr. Cook there, and so to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 03 Jan 1662. So to dinner to my Lord Crew's (age 64) with him and his Lady, and after dinner to Faithorne's (age 46), and there bought some pictures of him; and while I was there, comes by the King life-guard, he being gone to Lincoln's Inn this afternoon to see the Revells there; there being, according to an old custom, a prince and all his nobles, and other matters of sport and charge.
Pepy's Diary. 20 Jun 1666. Thence to the Hall and with Mrs. Martin home and staid with her a while, and then away to the Swan [Map] and sent for a bit of meat and dined there, and thence to Faythorne (age 50), the picture-seller's, and there chose two or three good Cutts to try to vernish, and so to Hales's (age 66) to see my father's picture, which is now near finished and is very good, and here I staid and took a nap of an hour, thinking my father and wife would have come, but they did not; so I away home as fast as I could, fearing lest my father this day going abroad to see Mr. Honiwood at Major Russell's might meet with any trouble, and so in great pain home; but to spite me, in Cheapside I met Mrs. Williams in a coach, and she called me, so I must needs 'light and go along with her and poor Knipp (who is so big as she can tumble and looks-every day to lie down) as far as Paternoster Row [Map], which I did do and there staid in Bennett's shop with them, and was fearfull lest the people of the shop, knowing me, should aske after my father and give Mrs. Williams any knowledge of me to my disgrace. Having seen them done there and accompanied them to Ludgate I 'light and into my owne coach and home, where I find my father and wife had had no intent of coming at all to Hales's. So I at home all the evening doing business, and at night in the garden (it having been these three or four days mighty hot weather) singing in the evening, and then home to supper and to bed.
Before 07 Nov 1666. William Faithorne "The Elder" (age 50). Portrait of Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 25). See Samuel Pepys' Diary 1666 November 07.
Pepy's Diary. 07 Nov 1666. Thence to Westminster Hall [Map], and, it being fast day, there was no shops open, but meeting with Doll Lane, did go with her to the Rose taverne, and there drank and played with her a good while. She went away, and I staid a good while after, and was seen going out by one of our neighbours near the office and two of the Hall people that I had no mind to have been seen by, but there was no hurt in it nor can be alleged from it. Therefore I am not solicitous in it, but took coach and called at Faythorne's (age 50), to buy some prints for my wife to draw by this winter, and here did see my Baroness Castlemayne's (age 25) picture, done by him from Lilly's (age 48), in red chalke and other colours, by which he hath cut it in copper to be printed. The picture in chalke is the finest thing I ever saw in my life, I think; and did desire to buy it; but he says he must keep it awhile to correct his copper-plate by, and when that is done he will sell it me.
Pepy's Diary. 01 Dec 1666. However, I was not much sorry for it, but by coach home, in the evening, calling at Faythorne's (age 50), buying three of my Baroness Castlemayne's (age 26) heads, printed this day, which indeed is, as to the head, I think, a very fine picture, and like her.
Pepy's Diary. 09 Jan 1667. Thence to Faythorne (age 51), and bought a head or two; one of them my Lord of Ormond's (age 56), the best I ever saw, and then to Arundell House [Map], where first the Royall Society meet, by the favour of Mr. Harry Howard (age 38), who was there, and has given us his grandfather's library, a noble gift, and a noble favour and undertaking it is for him to make his house the seat for this college. Here was an experiment shown about improving the use of powder for creating of force in winding up of springs and other uses of great worth. And here was a great meeting of worthy noble persons; but my Lord Bruncker (age 47), who pretended to make a congratulatory speech upon their coming hither, and in thanks to Mr. Howard, do it in the worst manner in the world, being the worst speaker, so as I do wonder at his parts and the unhappiness of his speaking.
Pepy's Diary. 09 Apr 1669. Thence out, and slipped out by water to Westminster Hall [Map] and there thought to have spoke with Mrs. Martin, but she was not there, nor at home. So back again, and with W. Hewer (age 27) by coach home and to dinner, and then to the office, and out again with W. Hewer to the Excise-Office, and to several places; among others, to Mr. Faythorne's (age 53), to have seen an instrument which he was said to have, for drawing perspectives, but he had it not: but here I did see his work-house, and the best things of his doing he had by him, and so to other places among others to Westminster Hall [Map], and I took occasion to make a step to Mrs. Martin's, the first time I have been with her since her husband went last to sea, which is I think a year since.... But, Lord! to hear how sillily she tells the story of her sister Doll's being a widow and lately brought to bed; and her husband, one Rowland Powell, drowned, sea with her husband, but by chance dead at sea, cast When God knows she hath played the whore, and forced at this time after she was brought to bed, this story.
On 13 May 1691 William Faithorne "The Elder" (age 75) died.