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Richard Houston (1721?–1775) was an Irish
mezzotint Mezzotint is a monochrome printmaking process of the '' 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. Mezzotint achieves tona ...
engraver, whose career was mostly in London.


Life

Born in Dublin about 1721, he became a pupil of John Brooks, who was also the master of James McArdell and Charles Spooner. He came to London about 1747, and some of his early plates bear the address "near Drummond's at Charing Cross". In debt to
Robert Sayer The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
the print-seller, he was arrested and confined to the Fleet prison; according to Sayer this in order that he might know where to find the dissipated Houston. He was released in 1760, on the accession of George III. As a free agent he was commissioned by Carington Bowles. Houston died in Hetton Street, London, on 4 August 1775, aged 54.


Works

Houston's major works are engravings after
Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter, specialising in portraits. John Russell said he was one of the major European painters of the 18th century. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depende ...
, which include portraits of: *
Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland (née ''Seymour''; 26 November 1716 – 5 December 1776), also ''suo jure'' 2nd Baroness Percy, was a British peer. Life Percy was the only daughter of Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset, and ...
, full-length; * Caroline, Duchess of Marlborough, and child; * Mary, Duchess of Ancaster; * Maria, Countess Waldegrave, later Duchess of Gloucester, with her daughter; * Elisabeth, Duchess of Argyll, and her son; * Lady Selina Hastings; *
Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, (22 November 170620 October 1758), styled as The Honourable Charles Spencer between 1706 and 1729 and as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier, nobleman, and politician ...
; *
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, (22 September 169424 March 1773) was a British statesman, diplomat, and man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time. Early life He was born in London to Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Che ...
; and * Richard Robinson, archbishop of Armagh. He engraved also: * seven portraits of George III, of which four were after
Zoffany Johan Joseph Zoffany (born Johannes Josephus Zaufallij; 13 March 1733 – 11 November 1810) was a German neoclassical painter who was active mainly in England, Italy and India. His works appear in many prominent British collections, includin ...
; * six of Queen
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte; 19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818) was Queen of Great Britain and of Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until the union of the two kingdoms ...
, after
Mary Benwell Mary Benwell (1739–after 1800), married name Codd, was an English artist, a miniaturist and pastellist. Life Benell's teachers may have included John Russell or Catherine Read. Benwell resided in Warwick Court, London, and exhibited crayon ...
,
Thomas Frye Thomas Frye (c. 1710 – 3 April 1762) was an Anglo-Irish artist, best known for his portraits in oil and pastel, including some miniatures and his early mezzotint engravings. He was also the patentee of the Bow porcelain factory, London, ...
, Zoffany, and others; * two, after Antoine Pesne, of
Frederick II, King of Prussia Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...
, one full-length, the other on horseback; *
John Manners, Marquess of Granby Lieutenant-General John Manners, Marquess of Granby, (2 January 1721 – 18 October 1770) was a British soldier and the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland. As he did not outlive his father and inherit the dukedom, he was known by his fath ...
, on horseback, after
Edward Penny Edward Penny (1 August 1714 – 16 November 1791) was an English portrait and historical painter, one of the founder members of the Royal Academy. Life He one of the twin elder sons of Robert Penny, surgeon, by Clare, daughter of William Traf ...
; and full-lengths of *
General Wolfe James Wolfe (2 January 1727 – 13 September 1759) was a British Army officer known for his training reforms and, as a major general, remembered chiefly for his victory in 1759 over the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec. ...
, after Schaak; *
Pasquale Paoli Filippo Antonio Pasquale de' Paoli (; french: link=no, Pascal Paoli; 6 April 1725 – 5 February 1807) was a Corsican patriot, statesman, and military leader who was at the forefront of resistance movements against the Genoese and later ...
, after Pietro Gherardi; *
Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his '' nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity—es ...
, after Sen; *
Julines Beckford Julines Beckford (c. 1717 - 1764), was the member of the Parliament of Great Britain for Salisbury Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bour ...
, after
Nathaniel Dance Sir Nathaniel Dance (20 June 1748 – 25 March 1827) was an officer of the East India Company who had a long and varied career on merchant vessels, making numerous voyages to India and back with the fleets of East Indiamen. He was already awar ...
; and * Catharine Wodhull and master James Sayer, both after Zoffany. A series of portraits by him is in Richard Rolt's ''Lives of the Principal Reformers'', London, 1759. Besides portraits, he executed a number of subject plates, such as: * 'The Virgin and Child,' after Raphael; * 'The Temptation of St. Anthony,' after Teniers; * 'The Death of General Wolfe,' after
Edward Penny Edward Penny (1 August 1714 – 16 November 1791) was an English portrait and historical painter, one of the founder members of the Royal Academy. Life He one of the twin elder sons of Robert Penny, surgeon, by Clare, daughter of William Traf ...
; * 'The Senses,' five plates after
Francis Hayman Francis Hayman (1708 – 2 February 1776) was an English painter and illustrator who became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768, and later its first librarian. Life and works Born in Exeter, Devon, Hayman begun his arti ...
; * 'The Sciences,' six plates after Jacopo Amiconi; * 'Avarice' and 'Innocence,' after
Philip Mercier Philippe Mercier (also spelled Philip Mercier; 1689 – 18 July 1760) was an artist of French Huguenot descent from the German realm of Brandenburg-Prussia (later Kingdom of Prussia), usually defined to French school. Active in England for mos ...
; * 'The Elements,' four plates, and 'The Times of the Day,' two different sets of four plates, also after Mercier; * the 'Miraculous Onyx Stone;' and * plates of running horses, in which he excelled. Houston's early work included his series of portraits of politicians after
William Hoare William Hoare of Bath (c. 1707 – 12 December 1792) was a British portraitist, painter and printmaker. From c. 1740 to 1759, he was the leading oil portraitist at Bath, Somerset, until Thomas Gainsborough arrived in the town. Noted for ...
, as well as plates after
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally co ...
. For Bowles he engraved religious figures.
John Bunyan John Bunyan (; baptised 30 November 162831 August 1688) was an English writer and Puritan preacher best remembered as the author of the Christian allegory ''The Pilgrim's Progress,'' which also became an influential literary model. In additio ...
,
William Romaine William Romaine (1714 at Hartlepool – 1795), evangelical divine of the Church of England, was author of works once highly thought of by the evangelicals, the trilogy ''The Life, the Walk, and the Triumph of Faith''. Early life Romaine was born ...
,
Martin Madan Martin Madan (1726 – 2 May 1790) was an English barrister, clergyman and writer, known for his contribution to Methodist music, 'The Lock Hospital Collection,' and later controversial views on marriage expressed in his book ''Thelyphthora''. ...
,
Andrew Gifford Andrew Gifford (1700–1784) was an English Baptist minister and numismatist. Life Gifford was the son of Emanuel Gifford, and grandson of Andrew Gifford, both Baptist ministers at Bristol. He was born on 17 August 1700, and was sent to the di ...
, Samuel Brewer, and others.
He painted a few miniatures.


References

*


Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Richard 1721 births 1775 deaths 18th-century engravers Irish engravers Artists from Dublin (city) People imprisoned for debt