James Tibbetts Willmore (1800-1863)
Willmore was born at Erdington, Staffordshire. Following a seven-year apprenticeship with the engraver William Radclyffe (1783-1855) in Birmingham, he moved to London where he worked for three years in the studio of Charles Heath (1785-1848).
In 1843, Willmore exhibited Ancient Italy (right), an engraving after J M W Turner, at the Royal Academy and was elected an Associate Engraver. Willmore produced plates after works by John James Chalon, Clarkson Stanfield and Edwin Landseer. His best work was after ‘…Turner, from whose works, so difficult to render, he produced many plates of great delicacy and excellence.’ (Redgrave).
Collections
British Museum, London
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Royal Academy, London
Tate Gallery, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Literature
Gray, B (1937), The English Print, Adam and Charles Black
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
Willmore was born at Erdington, Staffordshire. Following a seven-year apprenticeship with the engraver William Radclyffe (1783-1855) in Birmingham, he moved to London where he worked for three years in the studio of Charles Heath (1785-1848).
In 1843, Willmore exhibited Ancient Italy (right), an engraving after J M W Turner, at the Royal Academy and was elected an Associate Engraver. Willmore produced plates after works by John James Chalon, Clarkson Stanfield and Edwin Landseer. His best work was after ‘…Turner, from whose works, so difficult to render, he produced many plates of great delicacy and excellence.’ (Redgrave).
Collections
British Museum, London
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Royal Academy, London
Tate Gallery, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Literature
Gray, B (1937), The English Print, Adam and Charles Black
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 selection of antique prints after J M W Turner, including work by James Tibbetts Willmore can be viewed here.