Burnet Reading (1749–1838) was an English engraver and

draughtsman A draughtsman (British spelling) or draftsman (American spelling) may refer to: * An architectural drafter, who produced architectural drawings until the late 20th century * An artist who produces drawings that rival or surpass their other types ...

Biography

Reading was a native of Colchester, and practised in London. He worked entirely for the booksellers, engraving chiefly portraits of contemporary celebrities, many of which appeared in Bell's "British Theatre," 1776–86, and the " European Magazine," 1783–93. Reading engraved a set of six portraits of members of the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

, from drawings by

Peter Falconet Peter (Pierre-Etienne) Falconet (1741–1791) was a French portrait painter. Life Falconet was born in Paris, the son of the sculptor Etienne Maurice Falconet. His first studies were probably in the French Academy, but his father, who was frie ...

and another of members of the

American Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

, 1783; also some of the plates to

Boydell Boydell is an English surname. Boydell may also refer to: People * Brian Boydell (1917–2000), Irish composer * Jacqui Boydell (born 1968), Australian politician * James Boydell (died 1860), British inventor * John Boydell (1720–1804), Br ...

's "Shakespeare," and a few fancy subjects, such as "

Lavinia In Roman mythology, Lavinia ( ; ) is the daughter of Latinus and Amata, and the last wife of Aeneas. Creation It has been proposed that the character was in part intended to represent Servilia Isaurica, Emperor Augustus's first fiancée. Stor ...

and her Mother," after W. Bigg, and "Charlotte at the Tomb of Werther," from his own design. In 1820 a set of twelve etchings by Reading, from drawings by Mortimer, of "Characters to illustrate Shakespeare," was published by T. and H. Rodd; and many of the plates in that firm's "Collection of Portraits to illustrate Granger's “History of England,”" 1820 and 1822, were engraved by him. He was employed as drawing and riding master by the Earl of Pomfret at Windsor. A portrait of Reading was etched by

Samuel De Wilde Samuel De Wilde (1751–19 January 1832), born and died in London, was a portrait painter and etcher of Dutch descent famous for his theatrical paintings. He was the leading painter of actors and actresses between 1770 and 1820. He lived in Cla ...

in 1798.

Gallery

File:Edmund Gibson by Burnet Reading, after John Vanderbank.jpg File:Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke of Beauchamps Court by Burnet Reading.jpg File:King Henry VI by Burnet Reading.jpg File:Mary Ann Yates as Cleopatra in Dryden's 'All for Love by Edward Edwards (2).jpg File:Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament by Burnet Reading.jpg

References

;Attribution

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reading, Burnet 1749 births 1838 deaths 18th-century engravers 19th-century engravers English engravers British draughtsmen People from Colchester