John Brooks
(circa 1710-after 1756), Engraver and print publisherArtist associated with 35 portraits
John Brooks was born in Dublin and entered the Dublin Goldsmith's Corporation as a line engraver in 1736. He moved to London in 1740 where he learnt the mezzotint technique, returning to Dublin the following year. In Dublin he established himself as a mezzotint engraver and publisher, and was one of the key figures in Irish engraving of the time. In 1742, he advertised a series of large mezzotint portraits of contemporary figures, including William III, after Godfrey Kneller, and the Duke of Devonshire, after James Worsdale, for publication by subscription. Brooks moved permanently to London in 1746, where he concentrated on the process of transfer printing, a technique he probably invented.
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