John George Landseer (1769-1852)
Landseer was born at Lincoln; later being apprenticed to the engraver William Byrne (1743-1805). His earliest engraved plates were after Philip James de Loutherbourg and others.
Landseer was a forceful promoter of the art of engraving, delivering numerous lectures on the subject. He particularly railed against the Royal Academy’s stance in relation to the medium. At the time, engravers were disqualified from full membership – they were elected as Associate Engravers. This honour was conferred on Landseer in 1802 and he exhibited there. However, as Redgrave explains, ‘[Landseer] did not cease to complain of the unfair position in which engravers were placed by being deemed ineligible for full membership, and he never ceased to agitate upon this question…’
John and his wife Jane had fourteen children; four of whom, including Edwin, became artists.
Collections
British Museum, London
Metropolitan Museum, New York
National Galleries of Scotland
National Portrait Gallery, London
Royal Academy, London
Royal Collection Trust
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
Landseer was born at Lincoln; later being apprenticed to the engraver William Byrne (1743-1805). His earliest engraved plates were after Philip James de Loutherbourg and others.
Landseer was a forceful promoter of the art of engraving, delivering numerous lectures on the subject. He particularly railed against the Royal Academy’s stance in relation to the medium. At the time, engravers were disqualified from full membership – they were elected as Associate Engravers. This honour was conferred on Landseer in 1802 and he exhibited there. However, as Redgrave explains, ‘[Landseer] did not cease to complain of the unfair position in which engravers were placed by being deemed ineligible for full membership, and he never ceased to agitate upon this question…’
John and his wife Jane had fourteen children; four of whom, including Edwin, became artists.
Collections
British Museum, London
Metropolitan Museum, New York
National Galleries of Scotland
National Portrait Gallery, London
Royal Academy, London
Royal Collection Trust
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 selection of antique prints after J M W Turner, including work by John Landseer can be viewed here.