A View in the Island of Jamaica, of the Spring-Head of Roaring River on the Estate of William Beckford Esq.[5]

Location

Country: Jamaica
City: Kingston
Place: High Commission

George Robertson was a landscape painter, who worked largely in watercolour. He also produced history paintings showing grand scenes from classical mythology or the Bible, and important historical events. He was born in London and studied there at Shipley’s Academy on the Strand (established in 1753) and in Italy. He later played an important role in the training of artists, prior to the foundation of the Royal Academy in 1765. In 1774, Robertson accompanied the historian William Beckford to Jamaica, where he painted six landscapes, which were later engraved. He exhibited at both the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists. Robertson died in 1788 at his home near Elephant and Castle, in London.
Nothing is known about the early life of the landscape engraver James Mason. He is first mentioned by engraver and antiquary George Vertue, working for the publisher Arthur Pond in 1744, when he was probably in his early twenties. Mason later established himself as a popular engraver, co-publishing some of his own works. He produced several engravings after paintings by landscape and scene painter George Lambert, the majority of which are dated between 1745 and 1761. Mason engraved considerably less after 1780. He died in 1805 at his home in Winchester Row, Paddington, and was buried nearby at St Mary’s Church. He referred to himself as engraver and shopkeeper in his will, which suggests that he also ran a print shop.

Places

Caribbean Islands (West Indies), Jamaica

Subjects

herdsman, topography, landscape C18th, genre, tree, palm, cow, dog, river, Jamaican, man, woman, coat of arms

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

George Robertson (1742 - 1788)
James Mason (1710 - c.1780)

Title

A View in the Island of Jamaica, of the Spring-Head of Roaring River on the Estate of William Beckford Esq.[5]

Date

published 25 March 1778

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Frank T. Sabin, July 1962

GAC number

5861