Robert Laurie
(1755?-1836), Mezzotint engraver and printsellerRobert Laurie (Lowery or Lowry or Lowrie or Lawrey or Lawrie)
Artist associated with 69 portraits
Apprenticed to printseller Robert Sayer from 1770 until 1777, where he developed a reputation as a mezzotint engraver of caricatures, portraits and topographical views. In 1776, he was awarded a premium from the Society of Arts for inventing a new method of printing mezzotints in colour. After completing his apprenticeship, he tried unsuccessfully to set himself up as an independent artist; he soon rejoined Sayer, first as an assistant and then as a partner. In 1794, Sayer retired and Laurie, with James Whittle, took control of the business. The firm published prints ranging from satirical works to topographical views, but they were best known for their large, accurate, maps and atlases.
published by Robert Laurie, published by James Whittle
mezzotint, published 20 October 1798
NPG D19423
Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford
by Robert Laurie, after John Eckstein
coloured etching, published 1802
NPG D8425
Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford
by Robert Laurie, after John Eckstein
etching, published 1802
NPG D8442
published by Robert Laurie, published by James Whittle
hand-coloured etching, published 18 March 1802
NPG D20018
by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D1649
by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D3811
by Robert Laurie, published by Robert Dighton, after William Richardson
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D20163
by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1 March 1780
NPG D3922
by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1 March 1780
NPG D3923
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