West View across Windermere looking over the Great Island. From the Hill above the Ferry House

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Joseph Farington was born in Leigh, Lancashire, son of the vicar of Leigh and rector of Warrington. He was educated in Manchester and studied under Richard Wilson in London from 1763. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 and became an Academician in 1785. His strength was in pen, ink and wash drawings of topographical views. He made extensive sketching tours of the UK and settled in the North Country from 1776. Works made there led to the publication ‘Views of the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland’ (1785). In 1780 he suffered a breakdown after his wife died. In the next year he moved to London. He died on a visit to his brother in Lancashire, when he fell down steps at Didsbury Church. His personal diaries were published in 1934.
William Byrne made etchings and engravings of landscapes after contemporary artists. At 22 he won a premium of 25 guineas from the Society of Arts. From 1769 to 1772 he worked for Johann Georg Wille in Paris. After returning to the UK he became a prosperous engraver and publisher. He exhibited from 1766 to 1780 and was elected a fellow of the Incorporated Society of Artists. With watercolourist Thomas Hearne he produced the series of engravings for ‘The Antiquities of Great Britain’ (1778-06). Among his pupils were Samuel Middiman and Johann Gottlieb Schumann. Byrne married twice and had five children, all of whom became painters and / or engravers. Byrne died suddenly at his home in Titchfield Street, Westminster, at about the age of 62.
John George Landseer was born in Lincoln; the son of a jeweller. After moving to London, he was apprenticed to W. Byrne. His earliest work was for J. Farington’s ‘Views in the Lake Country’ (1784-88). He also produced plates for D. Hume’s ‘History of England’ (1792-93) and engraved P. J. de Loutherbourg’s Bible vignettes (1794). His children include engraver Thomas (1793/4-1880), painter Charles (1799/1800-1879), painter Sir Edwin (1802-1873) and miniaturists Jessica (1807-1880) and Emma (1809-1895). He campaigned for engravers to be full members of the Royal Academy, becoming an associate in 1806. He published his ‘Lectures on the Art of Engraving’ (1807) and two short-lived journals. From 1837 he was engraver to William IV. He died at 89.

Places

England, Lake District, Cumbria

Subjects

topography, landscape C19th, tree, lake, mountain, island, hill, man

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Joseph Farington (1747 - 1821)
William Byrne (1743 - 1805)
John George Landseer (1769 - 1852)

Title

West View across Windermere looking over the Great Island. From the Hill above the Ferry House

Date

published 1 April 1789

Medium

Coloured engraving

Dimensions

height: 25.50 cm, width: 36.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Baynton-Williams, January 1976

GAC number

12143