William Walker (engraver born 1791)

For other people named William Walker, see William Walker (disambiguation).

William Walker (1 August 1791 – 7 September 1867) was a Scottish engraver. He is known for engravings of Sir Henry Raeburn's portraits of Sir Walter Scott and Raeburn himself, Sir Thomas Lawrence's portrait of Lord Broughham (commissioned by Walker), and Alexander Nasmyth's portrait of Robert Burns.[3]

Biography

Walker was born on 1 August 1791 at Markton, Musselburgh, near Edinburgh. In 1815, Walker went to London working as an engraver. He established his reputation by engraving a large plate of Sir Henry Raeburn's equestrian portrait of John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun. In 1829, on his marriage to Elizabeth Reynolds, the famous miniaturist, he settled at 64 Margaret Street, where he resided until his death. Walker's work consists of about one hundred portraits of eminent contemporaries, after various oil painters, chiefly in mezzotint, all published by himself. Additionally, Walker created some interesting subject-pieces. He died at his house in Margaret Street, London, on 7 September 1867. His grave is in Brompton cemetery.

References

  1. ^ Engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', John Gilbert engraved by George Zobel and William Walker, ref. NPG 1075a, National Portrait Gallery, London, accessed February 2010
  2. ^ Smith, HM (May 1941). "Eminent men of science living in 1807-8". J. Chem. Educ 18 (5): 203. doi:10.1021/ed018p203. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed018p203. 
  3. ^  "Walker, William (1791-1867)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.