Engravings and Engravers

   

Early Engravers

This section is listed in approximately chronological order
but with exceptions - especially where links are made between engravers.

 

1.

Edinburgh has a long tradition of book publishing, extending into the 20th century.  Early engravers in Edinburgh included:

-   John Clarke (engraving,1690),
Archibald Bourden (engraver by 1718), 
Robert Miln (engraver by 1718),
Robert Woode (engraver by 1718),
John Clerk (b. Penicuik 1728;  d. Edinburgh 1812) an amateur known as 'Clerk of Eldin.'

-   Richard Cooper (b.1705) worked with his apprentices 
Robert Strange (b.1721) and 
Andrew Bell (d.1809), proprietor of Encyclopedia Britannica published in Edinburgh in 1768

-   Andrew Bell (above) subsequently worked with his own apprentices
Francis Legat (1755-1809) and the topographical engraver, 
Alexander Robertson (fl. late C18). 
 [This is the first reference I have found to topographical work by Edinburgh engravers.]

 

2.

-   David Allan (b.1744, painter living in Edinburgh from 1780)  
was the first Scottish engraver to practice aquatint.

-   John Kay (b.1742 Dalkeith;  d.1826 Edinburgh) was a miniaturist, caricaturist and engraver.  Two large volumes of his caricatures of Edinburgh personalities have been published.

Smith and Brodie - after Kay

 Caricature of George Smith and Deacon Brodie after Kay ©

-   Alexander Robertson (above) then employed an apprentice,
Robert Scott (1777-1841) who produced copper engravings for books.  He produced many Scottish landscapes, including 12 views around Edinburgh.

-   Robert Scott (above) had sons who took up engraving and etching:
David Scott RSA, etcher,  and 
William Bell Scott, engraver.

-   James Stewart (also painter, b.1791), 
John Horsburgh, 
Douglas Hay, 
Thomas Brown, 
William Douglas and 
John Burnet (above)  
were all pupils of Robert Scott (above).

-   Francis Lamb (born in Leith, c.1775-1850), 
John Beugho (or Beugo) (1759-1841) 
Edward Mitchell ( fl. early C19), and
produced engravings from paintings.  Beugho was a friend of Robert Burns whose portrait he engraved.

 

3.

-  Walter Geikie RSA (b. Edin 1795, d. Edin 1837) etcher, was also a painter and a draftsman.  He became deaf and dumb as the result of a fever

-  John Burnet (b. Fisherrow, 1784-1868)  was a well respected painter and engraver.  He moved to London in 1806, and continued to work until 1860.  He produced a number of large engravings after Wilkie (with whom he studied) and some after Turner.  The Tate Gallery and National Maritime Museum have his paintings in their collections.

-  William Howison ARSA (1798-1850 or 1851)
was educated at Heriot's Hospital.  He lived at 8 Frederick Street, engraved Sir George Harvey's paintings of Curlers and Covanenters' Communion.  

-  Robert Charles Bell (b. Edin 1806, d. Edin 1872) served his apprenticeship under John Beugho a the Trustees' Academy.  He was father of the painter, Robert P Bell

-   David Lizars (portrait engraver, d.1812)
was a pupil of Andrew Bell (above).

-  Francis Croll  (b. Musselburgh 1827;  d. Edinburgh 1854) completed his apprenticeship under Robert Charles Bell.

  [Main sources:  Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Vol 9John C Guy  +  Prints & Printmaking, Raymond Lister] 

 

Engravers and Engraving

Books

Modern Athens - 1829

Old & New Edinburgh - 1890

Other engravings

Early engravers

More recent engravers

Engravings and Engravers

Engravings - index

Processes

Engravings

Etchers etc

Photographers

A selection of  Engravings

 

 

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