James Basire

Portrait of James Thomson

James Basire's "Portrait of James Thomson" is an original engraving printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as published in London by A. Millar in 1761. It represents a fine example of the engraved art by the British artist, James Basire.

The poet James Thomson wrote and published "Winter", (1726),"Summer", (1727), "Spring" (1728) and "Autumn" (1730). The complete set became known as "The Seasons" and remained one of the most widely read and influential poems in Britain throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Portrait of James Thomson

View other original engravings by James Basire.

James Basire (London, 1730 - 1802)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Publisher
01-		Monument of George Talbot: The Fourth Earl of Shrewsbury by the British artist, James Basire designed by Hirst.	Original Engraving	1789	Society of Antiquaries, London
02.-		Monument of the Duke of Somerset & Lady at Wimbourn, Minster, Dorset by the British artist, James Basire designed by Schnebbelie.	Original Engraving	1789	Society of Antiquaries, London
03.-		Portrait of James Thomson by the British artist, James Basire designed by Aikman.	Original Engraving	1761	A. Millar, London

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Title:	Portrait of James Thomson
Engraver:	Basire, James (London, 1730 - 1802)
Designer:	Aikman
Date:	1761
Medium:	Original Engraving
Publisher:	A. Millar, London
Note:	James Basire: The son of a London engraver of maps, James Basire studied first under his father and then completed his engraving apprenticeship under Richard Dalton. Shortly afterwards James Basire accompanied a patron to Rome in order to study the works of Raphael. Upon his return, James Basire established a strong reputation for both his engraved portraits and for his architectural and antiquarian scenes. In the former category he engraved the portraits of such contemporaries as James Thomson, Captain Cook and Lady Stanhope.
	In 1760, James Basire was appointed the official engraver to the newly formed Society of Antiquaries. In this capacity he created many valuable engravings of British monuments and edifices from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Basire continued to be commissioned by the Society until 1795.
	As a result of his fine art James Basire was appointed engraver to the Royal Society in 1770. He was also a well respected teacher and was the engraving master of one of England's most famous artists and poets, William Blake.
	This finely engraved portrait of James Thomson was commissioned by the London publisher, A. Millar, for a two volume literary work entitled, The Works of James Thomson, with his Last Corrections and Improvements, and served as the frontis-piece for the set, which was published in 1762. Other artists such as Nicolas Tardieu also contributed engraved art.
	A Biographical Note: The poet James Thomson (1700-1748) was born in Ednam, Scotland, and educated at Edinburgh University. He went to London in 1725 and began his career as a tutor. A year later he published Winter which drew praise from a number of contemporary poets, such as Pope. He then wrote and published Summer (1727), Spring (1728) and Autumn (1730). The complete set became known as The Seasons and remained one of the most widely read and influential poems in Britain throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
	James Thomson's other great works include Sophonisba (1730), Liberty (1735), The Castle of Indolence (1748) and Alfred (1740). This last named masque contains the song, Rule Britannia. In 1737, James Thomson received a life pension from Frederick, Prince of Wales. He also served as surveyor-general of the Leeward Islands (1744).
Size:	10 3/4 X 7 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $285.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as published in London on the above date. Apart from faint water staining in the outer margins (well away from the actual portrait), this original engraving is in very good condition throughout and represents a prime example of the engraved art of James Basire.
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