John Pine: born 1690, died 1756.

John Pine was a close friend of William Hogarth, an engraver and painter, and both men were Freemasons. He produced various frontispiece works relating to the classics, historical events and freemasonry.

In the course of his career he worked with a number of historians, mapmakers and engravers, including John Roque, George Vertue and Robert Toms. Pine was known to have collaborated quite early on with John Clark on the frontispiece for Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe in 1719, and later in his career with John Rocque, producing on the first detailed map of London, which was finally published in 1746.

One of his most remarkable and decorative works was a volume of copperplate engraved pieces entitled The Spanish Armada, 1588: the tapestry hangings of the House of Lords, representing the several engagements between the English and Spanish fleets.

This stunning set of engravings was based on tapestries formerly hanging in the House of Lords.