At the age of 13, George Vertue was apprenticed to a prominent heraldic engraver of French origin and later worked seven years under Michael Vandergucht, before operating independently, and eventually to be amongst the first members of Godfrey Kneller's London Academy of Painting, who had employed him to engrave portraits.
At the age of 13, he was apprenticed to a prominent heraldic engraver of French origin who became bankrupt and returned to France. Vertue worked seven years under Michael Vandergucht, before operating independently. He was amongst the first members of Godfrey Kneller's London Academy of Painting, who had employed him to engrave portraits. 
