William Baillie (engraver)

Captain William Baillie. This well-known amateur acquired a distinguished reputation as an engraver. He was born at Killbride, County Carlow, in 1723, and passed the early part of his life in the army, from which he retired with the rank of captain of cavalry. On leaving the service Captain Baillie devoted his life entirely to the arts, and was for many years considered one of the most enlightened connoisseurs of his time. By this gentleman we have several plates engraved in various manners; but his most admired productions are those he executed in the style of Rembrandt, and his charming copies after the etchings of that master. He died in 1810. The works of Captain Baillie were published in two folio volumes by Boydell, in 1792, entitled, 'A Series of 225 Prints and Etchings after Rembrandt, Teniers, G. Dou, Poussin, and others.'

The following are the principal, some of which are signed with his name, and some marked with the cipher annexed:

• Bust of an Old Man, with a gold chain, in the manner of Rembrandt; two plates, one without the chain.
• Landscape, with a Stone Bridge, engraved 1764; scarce.
• Landscape, with the Ruins of a Temple, in the manner of Claude.
• Portrait of Sofonisba Anguisciola, painter; ipsa pinxit.
• Landscape by Moonlight; after A. Cuijp.
• The Pen-cutter; after Gerard Dou.
• The Lacemaker; after the same.
• The Mother of Gerard Dou; after the same.
• Susannah justified by Daniel; after G. van den Eckhout.
• Four Officers, two playing at Trictrac; after Marc Geerarts; scarce.
• Portrait of Frans Hals, painter; F. Hals, pinxit.
• Portrait of Frans van Mieris; after himself.
• Peasants saying Grace; after Molenaer.
• A Musical Assembly; after the same.
• James, Duke of Monmouth, on Horseback; after Netscher.
• Interior of a Dutch Chamber, with Feasants regaling; after A. Ostade. 1767.
• Interior, with Feasants smoking and drinking; after the same. 1765.
• Christ healing the Sick, commonly called the Hundred Guilder Print. The original plate by Rembrandt, purchased by Captain Baillie in Holland, and admirably retouched by him.
• Beggars at the Door of a House; after Rembrandt's etching.
• The Gold-weigher; finely copied from Rembrandt's etching.
• The Three Trees; Landscape; after the same.
• An Old Man, half-length, with a Beard and Cap; W. Baillie, 1765 ; after Rembrandt.
• The Entombment of Christ; two plates varied.
• An Old Man, half-length, with a large Beard, and his Hands in the Sleeve of his Robe. 1771.
• Landscape, with a Horse lying; after Rembrandt's print.
• The Holy Family; after Schidone.
• Interior of a village Alehouse; after Teniers; fine.
• A Student sitting before a Table with a Globe and Books; after Terborch.
• William, Prince of Orange, oa Horseback; after the same.
• Soldiers quarrelling at Dice; after Valentin.
• Three Sea-pieces; after drawings by W. van de Velde.

External links

• http://www.libraryireland.com/biography/WilliamBaillie.php

References

This article incorporates text from the article "BAILLIE, Captain William" in Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers by Michael Bryan, edited by Robert Edmund Graves and Sir Walter Armstrong, an 1886–1889 publication now in the public domain.