James Tassie (1735-1799)
Artist associated with 19 portraits
Tassie was a gem engraver and modeller known for reproductions of engraved gems and for portrait medallions, both made from a hard, fine-textured substance that he developed with a physician, Henry Quin. Having trained as a stonemason, in 1763 Tassie moved to Dublin, where he worked as laboratory assistant to Quin. Together they devised a white enamel composition especially suited for gemstone replicas. In 1766, Tassie moved to London, where he received commissions to duplicate many famous gems, both ancient and modern. Tassie's portrait medallions, his best-known original works, included many eminent contemporaries among their subjects. They were modelled from life in wax and cast in white paste.
Hugh Percy (formerly Smithson), 1st Duke of Northumberland
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, 1780
NPG 4954
by James Tassie
glass intaglio, 1781
On display in Room 14 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4603
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, 1787
On display in Room 13 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4599
after James Tassie
plaster cast of medallion, (1787)
NPG 1242
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, 1787
On display in Room 14 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3237
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, 1788
On display in Room 13 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3238
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, 1791
On display in Room 14 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4612
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, circa 1791
On display in Room 14 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4897
by James Tassie
glass paste medallion, 1791
On display in Room 14 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5800
Possibly John Bowes, Baron Bowes
after James Tassie
plaster cast of cameo, late 18th century
NPG D7024
Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel
by James Caldwall, after James Tassie
mezzotint, published 13 April 1782
NPG D3413
by William Dickinson, after James Tassie
stipple engraving, 1784
NPG D16592
by Mackenzie, after James Tassie
stipple engraving, published 1809
NPG D6775
by James Godby, after James Tassie
stipple engraving, published 1812
NPG D8264
by James Godby, after James Tassie
stipple engraving, published 1812
NPG D8265
Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel
by and published by James Caldwall, after James Tassie
mezzotint, published 13 April 1782
NPG D20460
by William Dickinson, after James Tassie
stipple engraving, (1784)
NPG D14002
by James Godby, after James Tassie
engraved copper plate, 1812
NPG D17009
by Alfred Robert Freebairn, after James Tassie
anaglyptograph, 1838
NPG D14258
Ireland
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