James Thomson (1788–1850) was a British engraver, known for his portraits. He completed his apprenticeship in engraving and then established himself independently, following the dot and stipple style. His engravings and paintings featured both leading figures of his day and those of previous periods.

Life

Thomson was baptised on 5 May 1788 at

Mitford, Northumberland Mitford is a village in the Wansbeck parliamentary constituency, in Northumberland, England, about west of Morpeth. History Although the foundation of Mitford is unknown, it was a barony during the Anglo-Saxon era. At the time of the Nor ...

, where his father James Thomson, who later became

vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...

Ormesby Ormesby is an area which is split between Borough of Middlesbrough and Borough of Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire, England. It is in the Middlesbrough part of the Teesside built up area. Spencer Beck to the east and the B1380 road to ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

, was then acting as curate. He was sent to London to be apprenticed to an engraver named Mackenzie. After completing an apprenticeship with Mackenzie, he worked for two years under Anthony Cardon, and then established himself independently. He became an accomplished engraver in the dot and stipple style. He died at his house in

Albany Street Albany Street is a road in London running from Marylebone Road to Gloucester Gate following the east side of Regent's Park. It is about three-quarters of a mile in length. History The street was laid out during the 1820s, and takes its name ...

, London, on 27 September 1850.

Works

Working mainly on portraits, Thomson was engaged for major illustrated works including

Edmund Lodge Edmund Lodge, KH (1756–1839), herald, was a long-serving English officer of arms, a writer on heraldic subjects, and a compiler of short biographies. Life and career Lodge was born in Poland Street, London on 13 June 1756, the son of Edmund Lo ...

's ''Portraits of Illustrious Personages'', ''Fisher's National Portrait Gallery'' (of Henry Fisher, Son and Jackson, edited by

William Jerdan William Jerdan FSA (16 April 1782 – 11 July 1869), Scottish journalist, was born at Kelso, Scotland. During the years between 1799 and 1806, he spent short periods in a country lawyer's office, a London West India merchant's counting hou ...

), Horace Walpole's ''Anecdotes of Painting'',

Charles Heath Charles Theodosius Heath (1 March 1785 – 18 November 1848) was a British engraver, currency and stamp printer, book publisher and illustrator. Life and career He was the illegitimate son of James Heath, a successful engraver who enjoyed ...

's ''Book of Beauty'',

Anne Mee Anne Mee, née Foldsone (1765–1851) was a prolific English miniature painter of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Life The eldest child of John Foldsone, she was educated at Madame Pomier's school in Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London. ...

's ''Gallery of Beauties'', the ''Keepsake'', the ''Court Magazine'', and ''Ancient Marbles in the British Museum''. Thomson's single plates included the portraits: * Mrs. Storey, after

Thomas Lawrence Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was an English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy. A child prodigy, he was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper at ...

, 1826 * Lady Burghersh and her sisters, after Lawrence, 1827 * John Wesley, after John Jackson, 1828 *

Charles James Blomfield Charles James Blomfield (29 May 1786 – 5 August 1857) was a British divine and classicist, and a Church of England bishop for 32 years. Early life and education Charles James Blomfield was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, the eldest son (an ...

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

, after George Richmond, 1847 *

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

riding with

Lord Melbourne William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, (15 March 177924 November 1848), in some sources called Henry William Lamb, was a British Whig politician who served as Home Secretary (1830–1834) and Prime Minister (1834 and 1835–1841). His first pre ...

, after Sir Francis Grant * Prince Albert, after

Sir William Charles Ross Sir William Charles Ross (3 June 1794 – 20 Jan 1860) was an English portrait and portrait miniature painter of Scottish descent; early in his career, he was known for historical paintings. He became a member of the Royal Academy in 1842. Life ...

Louis-Philippe Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France. As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary Wa ...

and his consort

Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily french: link=no, Marie-Amélie Thérèse de Bourbon-Siciles , house = Bourbon-Two Sicilies , father = Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies , mother = Maria Carolina of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Caserta Palace, Naples , ...

, a pair, after

Édouard Louis Dubufe Édouard is both a French given name and a surname, equivalent to Edward in English. Notable people with the name include: * Édouard Balladur (born 1929), French politician * Édouard Boubat (1923–1999), French photographer * Édouard Colonne (1 ...

, 1850 * Elizabeth Pepys, wife of Samuel Pepys

Family

By his wife, Diana, whose maiden name was Lloyd, he had two daughters: Eliza and Ann. One daughter, Ann (or Anne), married the painter

Frederick Goodall Frederick Goodall (17 September 1822 – 29 July 1904) was an English artist. Life Frederick Goodall was born in London in 1822, the second son of steel line engraver Edward Goodall (1795–1870). He received his education at the Wel ...

External Links

* Engraving of

Henry Corbould Henry Corbould (1787–1844) was an English artist. Life The third son of Richard Corbould, he was born in London. He studied painting with his father, and was at an early age admitted as a student of the Royal Academy, under Fuseli, where h ...

's drawing of

Richard Westmacott Sir Richard Westmacott (15 July 17751 September 1856) was a British sculptor. Life and career Westmacott studied with his father, also named Richard Westmacott, at his studio in Mount Street, off Grosvenor Square in London before going t ...

's sculpture of published in the Friendship's Offering annual for 1826, with an illustration in verse by

Letitia Elizabeth Landon Letitia Elizabeth Landon (14 August 1802 – 15 October 1838) was an English poet and novelist, better known by her initials L.E.L. The writings of Landon are transitional between Romanticism and the Victorian Age. Her first major breakthrough ...

. * Engraving of

's drawing of , from the statue at

Woburn Abbey Woburn Abbey (), occupying the east of the village of Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, is a country house, the family seat of the Duke of Bedford. Although it is still a family home to the current duke, it is open on specified days to visitors, ...

by Chantrey, accompanied by

Felicia Hemans Felicia Dorothea Hemans (25 September 1793 – 16 May 1835) was an English poet (who identified as Welsh by adoption). Two of her opening lines, "The boy stood on the burning deck" and "The stately homes of England", have acquired classic statu ...

's poem, ''The Child and Dove'', for The Literary Souvenir annual for 1826. * An engraving of a portrait of by

Charles Landseer Charles Landseer (12 August 1799 – 22 July 1879) was an English painter, mostly of historical subjects. Life He was born in London on 12 August 1799, the second son of the engraver John Landseer, and the elder brother of the animal painter, ...

for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833 with a poetical illustration by

. * An engraving of a portrait of by T Graham for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833 with a poetical illustration by

. * An engraving of by John Hayter for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839 with a poetical illustration by

. * An engraving of , by Joseph John Jenkins for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1840 with a posthumous poetical illustration by

. * For paintings in Flowers of Loveliness, 1838: *: An engraving of by

Fanny Corbaux Marie Françoise Catherine Doetger "Fanny" Corbaux (1812–1883) was a British painter and biblical commentator. She was also the inventor of kalsomine (calcimine), whitewash with added zinc oxide. Life Corbaux was born in Paris, the daughter o ...

, with a poetical illustration by

. *: An engraving of by Thomas Uwins, with a poetical illustration by

References

* ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, James 1788 births 1850 deaths English engravers People from Northumberland