James Thomson (Thompson)
(baptised 1788-1850), EngraverArtist associated with 138 portraits
James Thomson was apprenticed for seven years to Mackenzie, a London engraver. He then spent two years working for Anthony Cardon before setting up in business on his own. He became an accomplished engraver, developing a unique style by etching design lines on his plates before either line or stipple engraving them. Thomson produced figure and portrait engravings and contributed to many popular illustrated works such as E. Lodge's Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain (1821-34), Horace Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting (1826-8) and C. Heath's Book of Beauty (1833-49).
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David Alexander
29 November 2018, 18:32
The portrait of The Revd Joseph White after Peters from the European Magazine, 1796, is not by James Thompson but Joseph Thomson, and clearly signed as such.