Isaac Beckett (1653 – 1719) was an English

mezzotint Mezzotint is a monochrome printmaking process of the intaglio (printmaking), intaglio family. It was the first printing process that yielded half-tones without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple. Mezzo ...

engraver, one of the first practitioners of the art in the country.

Life and work

Beckett was born in

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

in 1653, and apprenticed to a

calico Calico (; in British usage since 1505) is a heavy plain-woven textile made from unbleached, and often not fully processed, cotton. It may also contain unseparated husk parts. The fabric is far coarser than muslin, but less coarse and thick than ...

printer in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, but, after meeting Edward Luttrell, he decided to learn the new art of engraving in mezzotint. Hearing that one John Lloyd was acquainted with the process, and being obliged through an intrigue to absent himself from his business, Beckett offered his services to him, and entered into articles to work for him. Before long, however, he again fell into trouble, and was assisted by Luttrell, with whom he became associated in the development of the art. He is said to have married a woman of fortune, which enabled him to set up as the publisher of his own prints. Luttrell did many heads for him, being more skilful in drawing than Beckett, but they were often finished by the latter. His plates are all referable to dates between 1681 and 1688, although he lived until 1719. Beckett and

Robert Williams Robert, Rob, Robbie, Bob or Bobby Williams may refer to: Architecture * Train %26 Williams#Robert Edmund Williams, Robert Edmund Williams (1874–1960), Canadian-American architect * Robert Williams (architect) (1848–1918), Welsh architect a ...

were the first native Englishmen who extensively practised engraving in mezzotint, and, in a measure, may be considered to have founded the school, for the earlier works were executed chiefly by engravers of foreign birth. John Smith (1652?–1742) was Beckett's pupil, and appears to have obtained possession of many of his plates and to have placed his own name on them, not only as publisher, but on some even as engraver. Beckett engraved several biblical and allegorical subjects and as a few landscapes, but the great majority of his plates are portraits, of which 107 are known.Smith, John Chaloner.
British mezzotinto portraits, volume 1
' pp. 21-55 (London : H. Sotheran, 1884).

Engraved Portraits

His engraved portraits include: *''Sir

Godfrey Kneller Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (born Gottfried Kniller; 8 August 1646 – 19 October 1723) was a German-born British painter. The leading Portrait painting, portraitist in England during the late Stuart period, Stuart and early Georgian eras ...

'' (from a picture by Kneller). *'' Charles II'' (after Kneller). *''

James, Duke of York James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...

'' (after the same). *'' Henry, Duke of Grafton'' (after T. Hawker). *'' The Duchess of Grafton''; after Wissing. *''Charles Melford'' (after the same). *''Sir

Peter Lely Sir Peter Lely (14 September 1618 – 30 November 1680) was a painter of Dutch origin whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court. He became a naturalised British subject and was kn ...

'' ("Se ipse pinx" - see illustration above) *'' George, Prince of Denmark'' (after

Riley Riley may refer to: Businesses * Riley (brand), British sporting goods brand founded in 1878 * Riley Motor, British motorcar and bicycle manufacturera 1890–1969 * Riley Technologies, American auto racing constructor and team, founded by Bob ...

). *''

Henry Compton Henry Compton may refer to: * Henry Compton (bishop) (1632–1713), English bishop and nobleman * Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton (1544–1589), English peer, MP for Old Sarum * Henry Combe Compton (1789–1866), British Conservative Party polit ...

, Bishop of London'' (after the same). *'' Christopher, Earl of Albemarle'' (after Murray). *'' George, Duke of Buckingham'' (after Verhelst). *''

John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale, KG, PC (24 May 1616 – 24 August 1682) was a Scottish statesman and peer. Background Maitland was a member of an ancient family of both Berwickshire and East Lothian, the eldest surviving son of Jo ...

'' (after Riley). *'' Henry, Duke of Norfolk''. *'' Thomas Cartwright, Bishop of Chester'' . *''Lady Williams'' (full length). *''Adrian Beverland'' (drawn from a statue). Beckett's own portrait was engraved by his pupil John Smith and others.

Engraved Subjects

*''The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, with the Infant Jesus asleep, with two Angels'' (painter unnamed). *''Time cutting the Wings of Love''. *''Cupid and Psyche'' (after

Alessandro Turchi Alessandro Turchi (1578 – 22 January 1649) was an Italian painter of the early Baroque, born and active mainly in Verona, and moving late in life to Rome. He also went by the name Alessandro Veronese or the nickname ''L'Orbetto''. His style ...

). *''A Landscape, with a Shepherd and Shepherdess''. *''The Dutch Schoolmaster'' (after

Heemskerk Heemskerk ( ) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is located in the Kennemerland region. History The town was formed during the Middle Ages. In an official deed from the year of 1063, the town was ...

). *''The Village Barber Surgeon'' (after J. Lingelbach).

References

Attribution: *

External links

Sir Peter Lely
(engraved by Beckett and Smith) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Beckett, Isaac English engravers 1653 births 1719 deaths Artists from Kent