(1647 - 1728)
Francis Place, son of Rowland Place of county Durham (who practised law) was apprenticed to an attorney at Gray’s Inn, until 1665. Through W. Hollar’s influence he became an amateur draughtsman and printmaker, later practising professionally, and etched plates for Jan Nieuhoff’s ‘Embassy to the Emperor of China’ in 1669. From c.1680 he was involved with the Virtuosi of York and later settled in York. Here, he met William Lodge, with whom he made drawing and angling excursions. They were imprisoned during one trip, suspected of involvement in the Popish plot. Place produced a set of Italian scenes for publisher Arthur Tooker. He also made botanical and animal drawings, still life studies and etchings for Godartius’s ‘Book of Insects’ (1681).
