Thomas Bewick
(1753-1828), Wood-engraverRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 5 portraits
At the age of fourteen Bewick was apprenticed to Ralph Beilby, an engraver in Newcastle. He devoted himself to engraving on wood, and is credited with reviving this art and establishing it as a major form of printmaking. Bewick developed the technique of cutting a design into hardwood cut across, rather than with, the grain, using a sharp tool called a bruin. In 1775, he received a payment from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce for a wood engraving of the Huntsman and the Old Hound. Bewick's most important works are illustrations for books such as A General History of Quadrupeds (1790) and A History of British Birds (1797 and 1804).
Unknown man, formerly known as Thomas Bewick
attributed to Thomas Sword Good
oil on canvas, circa 1809-1810
NPG 971
by John Burnet, after James Ramsay
line engraving, published 1817
NPG D1064
by Frederick Bacon, after James Ramsay
line engraving, 1852
NPG D31747
by Frederick Bacon, after James Ramsay
line engraving, 1852
NPG D42310
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.