POMPEY Engraved by George Cooke 1809 Antique Copper Engraving

This original copper engraving of Pompey the Great (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus), engraved by George Cooke and published in London by Vernor, Hood & Sharpe on April 1, 1809, depicts the renowned Roman general and statesman in profile with youthful features and classical poise. Cooke’s refined linework captures both strength and nobility, consistent with the neoclassical aesthetic of early 19th-century portrait engraving.

The accompanying biographical text recounts Pompey’s rise from a young commander under Sulla to one of Rome’s most celebrated leaders. His conquests extended across Asia, Africa, and Europe, and his complex alliance and rivalry with Julius Caesar shaped the fate of the Roman Republic. Measuring approximately 5 x 8 inches and blank on the reverse, this engraving presents a fine historical tribute to a figure whose ambition and tragedy epitomized the final years of republican Rome.