William Hole (engraver)
Encyclopedia
William Hole was a skilled English engraver who died in 1624 though the date of his birth is uncertain. In 1607 he engraved the title page for a London edition of the Breeches Bible
. Hole’s work suggests French influence, he engraved for music by composers, Dr John Bull
, William Byrd
and Orlando Gibbons
. This and other works by Hole were the first time that intaglio copperplate engraving was used for English music scores. For many books, Hole engraved a portrait of the author, such as John Florio's 1611 Italian and English dictionary, George Chapman
's 1616 translation of the Iliad
, and George Wither
's 1617 book of poems. Hole also made maps and travelogue material. Some of Hole’s work is in the British Museum
.
Geneva Bible
The Geneva Bible is one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible into the English language, preceding the King James translation by 51 years. It was the primary Bible of the 16th century Protestant movement and was the Bible used by William Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell, John...
. Hole’s work suggests French influence, he engraved for music by composers, Dr John Bull
John Bull (composer)
John Bull was an English composer, musician, and organ builder. He was a renowned keyboard performer of the virginalist school and most of his compositions were written for this medium.-Life:...
, William Byrd
William Byrd
William Byrd was an English composer of the Renaissance. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.-Provenance:Knowledge of Byrd's biography expanded in the late 20th century, thanks largely...
and Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons was an English composer, virginalist and organist of the late Tudor and early Jacobean periods...
. This and other works by Hole were the first time that intaglio copperplate engraving was used for English music scores. For many books, Hole engraved a portrait of the author, such as John Florio's 1611 Italian and English dictionary, George Chapman
George Chapman
George Chapman was an English dramatist, translator, and poet. He was a classical scholar, and his work shows the influence of Stoicism. Chapman has been identified as the Rival Poet of Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Minto, and as an anticipator of the Metaphysical Poets...
's 1616 translation of the Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
, and George Wither
George Wither
George Wither was an English poet, pamphleteer, and satirist. He was a prolific writer who adopted a deliberate plainness of style; he was several times imprisoned. C. V...
's 1617 book of poems. Hole also made maps and travelogue material. Some of Hole’s work is in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.