John Romney
Encyclopedia
John Romney was an English
artist in printmaking
and watercolour who lived and worked in London
and Chester
. Much of his work consisted of reproductions of the work of other artists, but he produced some original prints, paintings and drawings. Like the great majority of contemporary printmakers he worked in both engraving
and etching
, often on the same plate, and descriptions of his prints as being in one or the other technique should be taken loosely. His best known original prints are series of views of the Chester area and his part of one on the antiquities in the British Museum
. He was apparently not related to the famous portraitist George Romney
(1734–1802).
, the third of seven children of John and Dorothy Romney. His father was a linen
draper
and the family moved at some time after 1801 to Lambeth
in London where John Romney senior continued with his business. John junior was apprenticed to an engraver and in 1807 he won a prize for drawing at the Society of Arts which enabled him to establish himself as a teacher. He exhibited at the Royal Academy
in 1807 and 1813. In 1813 he engraved two illustrations after Thomas Stothard
for Goldsmith's
The Vicar of Wakefield
and during the years 1812 to 1845 a series of etchings for the Description of the Collection of Ancient Marbles in the British Museum. In 1829 and 1831 he produced 200 views on 100 plates for Paris and its Environs by Augustus Pugin and C. Heath which was an inspiration for some of his later work in Chester. Amongst his considerable output during this time were five plates for an edition of Hogarth's
works in 1833.
s. In 1845 he exhibited four watercolours
and a pencil drawing at the Liverpool Academy
; in 1846 and 1847 he exhibited five more watercolours. During this time he was also producing drawings to be reproduced as lithographs
. One etching which sold in large numbers was The Chester and Holyhead Railway Bridge Accident
which occurred on 24 May 1847 when bridge girders collapsed and four people were killed.
John and Elizabeth Romney had one child, a son Robert Routledge, in 1811. Robert died in February 1857 and in July of that year Elizabeth died. Romney died at his home in Chester in 1863. At that time he owned five houses in the city, but his estate
amounted to under £200.
Six of Romney's works are in the collection of London's National Portrait Gallery.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artist in printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
and watercolour who lived and worked in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
. Much of his work consisted of reproductions of the work of other artists, but he produced some original prints, paintings and drawings. Like the great majority of contemporary printmakers he worked in both engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
and etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
, often on the same plate, and descriptions of his prints as being in one or the other technique should be taken loosely. His best known original prints are series of views of the Chester area and his part of one on the antiquities in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. He was apparently not related to the famous portraitist George Romney
George Romney (painter)
George Romney was an English portrait painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures - including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson....
(1734–1802).
Early life and career in London
John Romney was born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, the third of seven children of John and Dorothy Romney. His father was a linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
draper
Draper
Draper is the now largely obsolete term for a wholesaler, or especially retailer, of cloth, mainly for clothing, or one who works in a draper's shop. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. The drapers were an important trade guild...
and the family moved at some time after 1801 to Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
in London where John Romney senior continued with his business. John junior was apprenticed to an engraver and in 1807 he won a prize for drawing at the Society of Arts which enabled him to establish himself as a teacher. He exhibited at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1807 and 1813. In 1813 he engraved two illustrations after Thomas Stothard
Thomas Stothard
Thomas Stothard was an English painter, illustrator and engraver.-Life and work:Stothard was born in London, the son of a well-to-do innkeeper in Long Acre, London. A delicate child, he was sent at the age of five to a relative in Yorkshire, and attended school at Acomb, and afterwards at...
for Goldsmith's
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
The Vicar of Wakefield
The Vicar of Wakefield
The Vicar of Wakefield is a novel by Irish author Oliver Goldsmith. It was written in 1761 and 1762, and published in 1766, and was one of the most popular and widely read 18th-century novels among Victorians...
and during the years 1812 to 1845 a series of etchings for the Description of the Collection of Ancient Marbles in the British Museum. In 1829 and 1831 he produced 200 views on 100 plates for Paris and its Environs by Augustus Pugin and C. Heath which was an inspiration for some of his later work in Chester. Amongst his considerable output during this time were five plates for an edition of Hogarth's
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"...
works in 1833.
Life and career in Chester
In 1810 Romney had married Elizabeth Brooks in Chester and in 1840 or 1841 he moved with his family to Chester. While living in Chester he produced the works for which he remains best known, two series of engravings of local buildings and views. One of these is entitled Views of Ancient Buildings in Chester. This was produced in two sets, each of 12 engravings, which were published in May 1851 and August 1854. The other consists of 34 engravings entitled Chester and its Environs Illustrated which was produced between 1846 and 1855. Romney's output was not limited to engravings and etchingEtching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
s. In 1845 he exhibited four watercolours
Watercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
and a pencil drawing at the Liverpool Academy
Liverpool Academy of Arts
The Liverpool Academy of Arts was founded in April 1810 as a regional equivalent of the Royal Academy, London. Two local art collectors, Henry Blundell and William Roscoe were its first Patron and Secretary, the Prince Regent gave his patronage for the next three years, and it was actively...
; in 1846 and 1847 he exhibited five more watercolours. During this time he was also producing drawings to be reproduced as lithographs
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
. One etching which sold in large numbers was The Chester and Holyhead Railway Bridge Accident
Dee bridge disaster
The Dee bridge disaster was a rail accident that occurred on 24 May 1847 in Chester with five fatalities.A new bridge across the River Dee was needed for the Chester and Holyhead Railway, a project planned in the 1840s for the expanding British railway system. It was built using cast iron girders,...
which occurred on 24 May 1847 when bridge girders collapsed and four people were killed.
John and Elizabeth Romney had one child, a son Robert Routledge, in 1811. Robert died in February 1857 and in July of that year Elizabeth died. Romney died at his home in Chester in 1863. At that time he owned five houses in the city, but his estate
Estate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
amounted to under £200.
Six of Romney's works are in the collection of London's National Portrait Gallery.