William Dickinson
(1746-1823), Engraver and printsellerSitter in 1 portrait
Artist associated with 85 portraits
It is unknown where Dickinson trained as an engraver, but in 1773 he began publishing his own prints. By 1778, he had entered into partnership with the engraver Thomas Watson. They took over the print shop of Walter Shropshire in New Bond Street, where they had a stock of plates based on modern artists including Reynolds. Watson died in 1781 but Dickinson continued with the business. He built up a large stock of modern plates and in 1791 he was appointed engraver to the Prince of Wales. Two years later, he went bankrupt. He moved to France in 1797 where he worked as a mezzotint engraver. In Paris, he engraved portraits of the king of Saxony in 1811 and of the Emperor Napoleon in 1815.
Mary Ann Yates in the character of Medea
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1 January 1771
NPG D36245
Mary Ann Yates in the character of Medea
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1 January 1771
NPG D36246
Mary Ann Yates in the character of Medea
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1 January 1771
NPG D36247
by and published by William Dickinson, after William Thomson
mezzotint, published 1 March 1771
NPG D42122
by William Dickinson, after William Thomson
mezzotint, published 1771
NPG D42123
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 17 September 1771
NPG D1605
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 17 September 1771
NPG D2236
by and published by William Dickinson, after William Thomson
mezzotint, published 1 March 1771
NPG D4310
by and published by William Dickinson
mezzotint, published 1 August 1773
NPG D37313
'Mrs Reid in the Character of a Sultana' (Mrs Reid and an unknown woman)
by William Dickinson, published by Carington Bowles, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 5 June 1773
NPG D42267
'Mrs Reid in the Character of a Sultana' (Mrs Reid and an unknown woman)
by William Dickinson, published by Carington Bowles, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 5 June 1773
NPG D42268
by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D1922
by and published by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 24 November 1774
NPG D2386
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D4800
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D4801
by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D7504
by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D7505
by and published by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 2 February 1775
NPG D39455
by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1775 (1770)
NPG D40113
by William Dickinson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1775 (1770)
NPG D40114
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Jim Sherry
28 February 2020, 20:07
The William Dickinson referenced in your link was a printseller, not an MP. He was also living in France at the time of Gillray's print, so it can't be him in Gillray's "Hope." This is the one you probably want. (http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/dickinson-william-i-1745-1806) He was at least an MP at the right time. But personally I question the identification of Gillray's figure as Dickinson at all.
He had no involvement in the Robson debate depicted in "Despair." And his votes in Parliament do not suggest that he was a fan of Addington.