James Watson
(circa 1740-1790), EngraverArtist associated with 193 portraits
James Watson was born in Ireland. As a young man he moved to London, where he studied mezzotint engraving. He became one of the leading mezzotint engravers of the day, including fifty-six plates after the paintings of Joshua Reynolds. The majority of Watson's work was produced for Sayer, Boydell and other printsellers but he published some plates himself. Watson exhibited at the Society of Artists from 1762 to 1775, during which time he was regarded as a master in his field.
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