James MacArdell
Encyclopedia
James MacArdell was an Irish engraver of mezzotint
s.
. When Brooks moved to London about 1746, MacArdell and other pupils followed. He opened a print shop at the Golden Head in Covent Garden
, where in 1753 he published six views of Dublin. MacArdell died on 2 June 1765, in his fifty-seventh year, and was buried in the churchyard at Hampstead
, where a stone bore an inscription to his memory.
in an engraving, altered from one by Brooks of Bishop Robert Howard
. A head of Dr. Birch is stated to have been done by MacArdell in London. A portrait of Bishop Thomas Secker
, engraved by MacArdell, was published in London in 1767, and also a humorous plate, entitled ‘Teague's Ramble.’ In 1748 he engraved a portrait of John Cartwright, after S. Elmer, and a small portrait of Charles Bancks, a Swedish painter, for the Chevalier Descazeaux, an eccentric confined in the Fleet Prison
, of whose portrait MacArdell made two etchings.
In 1749 he engraved the picture of Lady Boyd, after Allan Ramsay
, and the portrait by William Hogarth
of Thomas Coram in 1750, the Duke of Dorset
, after Kneller, and ‘The Sons of the Duke of Buckingham,’ after Anthony Vandyck. In 1754 he engraved his first plates after Sir Joshua Reynolds; these plates were the Earl and Countess of Kildare, companion plates, published in Dublin by Michael Ford
, and Lady Charlotte Fitzwilliam, published by Reynolds himself. Subsequently MacArdell engraved thirty-four more portraits by Reynolds and twenty-five by Thomas Hudson
. He engraved fine portraits of George III, Queen Charlotte, and one of George II on horseback.
After Peter Paul Rubens MacArdell engraved ‘The Family of Sir Balthasar Gerbier,’ and ‘Rubens with his Wife and Child,’ from the picture once at Blenheim Palace
; after Vandyck, ‘Time clipping the Wings of Cupid,’ ‘The Finding of Moses,’ and Lord John and Lord Bernard Stuart; after Rembrandt, ‘The Mathematician,’ ‘Tobit and the Angel,’ ‘A Dutch Interior’, and ‘The Tribute Money.’ MacArdell engraved numerous other portraits and subject pictures. Some were from his own drawings, such as those of Charles Blakes, an actor, as ‘M. le Medecin,’ and David Garrick
as ‘Peter Puff.’
Mezzotint
Mezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple...
s.
Life
He was born in Cow Lane (later Greek Street), Dublin, around 1729. He learnt mezzotint-engraving from John BrooksJohn Brooks (engraver)
-Life:Active initially in Dublin, around 1747 he settled in London, managing a business at Battersea for the enamelling of china in colours by a process which he had devised. The articles produced were ornamented with subjects chiefly from Homer and Ovid...
. When Brooks moved to London about 1746, MacArdell and other pupils followed. He opened a print shop at the Golden Head in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, where in 1753 he published six views of Dublin. MacArdell died on 2 June 1765, in his fifty-seventh year, and was buried in the churchyard at Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, where a stone bore an inscription to his memory.
Works
His earliest work appears to be a head of Archbishop Hugh BoulterHugh Boulter
Hugh Boulter was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, from 1724 until his death. He also served as the chaplain to George I from 1719.-Background and education:...
in an engraving, altered from one by Brooks of Bishop Robert Howard
Robert Howard
Robert Howard may refer to:*Sir Robert Howard , Royalist commander*Robert L. Howard , Medal of Honor recipient during the Vietnam War*Robert E...
. A head of Dr. Birch is stated to have been done by MacArdell in London. A portrait of Bishop Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker , Archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Sibthorpe, Nottinghamshire.-Early life and studies:In 1699, Secker went to Richard Brown's free school in Chesterfield, staying with his half-sister and her husband, Elizabeth and Richard Milnes...
, engraved by MacArdell, was published in London in 1767, and also a humorous plate, entitled ‘Teague's Ramble.’ In 1748 he engraved a portrait of John Cartwright, after S. Elmer, and a small portrait of Charles Bancks, a Swedish painter, for the Chevalier Descazeaux, an eccentric confined in the Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
, of whose portrait MacArdell made two etchings.
In 1749 he engraved the picture of Lady Boyd, after Allan Ramsay
Allan Ramsay
Allan Ramsay may refer to:*Allan Ramsay , also known as Allan Ramsay the Elder, Scottish poet*Allan Ramsay , also known as Allan Ramsay the Younger, Scottish portrait painter...
, and the portrait by William Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
of Thomas Coram in 1750, the Duke of Dorset
Duke of Dorset
Duke of Dorset was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1720 for the politician Lionel Sackville, 7th Earl of Dorset. The Sackville family descended from Sir Richard Sackville. His only surviving son, Thomas Sackville, was a statesman, poet and dramatist and notably served as...
, after Kneller, and ‘The Sons of the Duke of Buckingham,’ after Anthony Vandyck. In 1754 he engraved his first plates after Sir Joshua Reynolds; these plates were the Earl and Countess of Kildare, companion plates, published in Dublin by Michael Ford
Michael Ford (engraver)
Michael FOrd , was an Irish mezzotint engraver.Ford was a native of Dublin, and a pupil of John Brooks, the mezzotint engraver [q. v.] When Brooks quitted Ireland about 1747, Ford set up as his successor at a shop on Cork Hill. He engraved a number of portraits in mezzotint, which on account of...
, and Lady Charlotte Fitzwilliam, published by Reynolds himself. Subsequently MacArdell engraved thirty-four more portraits by Reynolds and twenty-five by Thomas Hudson
Thomas Hudson
Thomas Hudson may refer to:* Thomas Hudson , British actor* Thomas Hudson , English portrait painter of the eighteenth century...
. He engraved fine portraits of George III, Queen Charlotte, and one of George II on horseback.
After Peter Paul Rubens MacArdell engraved ‘The Family of Sir Balthasar Gerbier,’ and ‘Rubens with his Wife and Child,’ from the picture once at Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
; after Vandyck, ‘Time clipping the Wings of Cupid,’ ‘The Finding of Moses,’ and Lord John and Lord Bernard Stuart; after Rembrandt, ‘The Mathematician,’ ‘Tobit and the Angel,’ ‘A Dutch Interior’, and ‘The Tribute Money.’ MacArdell engraved numerous other portraits and subject pictures. Some were from his own drawings, such as those of Charles Blakes, an actor, as ‘M. le Medecin,’ and David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
as ‘Peter Puff.’