James Baylis Allen (1803-1876)
Allen was born in Birmingham where he initially worked with his father, a button manufacturer. Later, he was apprenticed to artist Vincent Barber (1788-1838), an engagement he broke to move to London in 1824. Here, he provided engravings for the Bank of England. Mackenzie states that Allen also worked with Edward and William Finden.
According to Redgrave, ‘He [Allen] executed many works for the ‘Art Journal’ and other periodicals. His best engravings are after landscape subjects.’
Collections
Birmingham Museums Trust
British Museum, London
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Reading Museum and Town Hall
Royal Academy, London
Tate Gallery, London
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Literature
Hind, A M (1963 reprint), A History of Engraving and Etching, Dover Publications
Mackenzie, I (1988), British Prints, Antique Collectors’ Club
Redgrave, S (1970 reprint), A Dictionary of Artists of the English School, Kingsmead Reprints
Williamson, G C Ed. (1904), Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, George Bell and Sons
Allen was born in Birmingham where he initially worked with his father, a button manufacturer. Later, he was apprenticed to artist Vincent Barber (1788-1838), an engagement he broke to move to London in 1824. Here, he provided engravings for the Bank of England. Mackenzie states that Allen also worked with Edward and William Finden.
According to Redgrave, ‘He [Allen] executed many works for the ‘Art Journal’ and other periodicals. His best engravings are after landscape subjects.’
Collections
Birmingham Museums Trust
British Museum, London
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Reading Museum and Town Hall
Royal Academy, London
Tate Gallery, London
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Literature
Hind, A M (1963 reprint), A History of Engraving and Etching, Dover Publications
Mackenzie, I (1988), British Prints, Antique Collectors’ Club
Redgrave, S (1970 reprint), A Dictionary of Artists of the English School, Kingsmead Reprints
Williamson, G C Ed. (1904), Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, George Bell and Sons
Our full selection of antique prints can be viewed here.