William Sherwin (engraver)
Encyclopedia
William Sherwin was an English engraver, one of the first to work with mezzotint
s.
(1607–1687?), the nonconformist minister, and was born at Wallington, Hertfordshire
, where his father was rector around 1645. On his print of his father, dated 1672, he styles himself engraver to the king by patent. He married Elizabeth Pride, great-niece and ward of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
, whose heir-at-law she eventually became, and there exists a pedigree of the Moncks of Potheridge engraved by Sherwin expressly to show his wife's claim to that position.
, Catherine of Braganza
, Prince Rupert, Baron Gerard of Brandon
, the Duchess of Cleveland, and Slingsby Bethell. He also made small ones prefixed to books. He engraved the title to John Reynolds
's ‘Triumphes of God's Revenge against Murder,’ 1670, several of the plates in Francis Sandford's ‘History of the Coronation of James II,’ 1687, and the portraits of Dr. William Sermon, prefixed to his works.
Sherwin was one of the first workers in mezzotint, a technique he learned from Prince Rupert. He dedicated to the Prince a pair of large portraits of Charles II and his queen engraved by the method; the former of these is dated 1669, the earliest found on an English mezzotint. Among his other mezzotint plates are portraits of the Duke of Albemarle, Elizabeth Monck, Duchess of Albemarle
, Adrian Beverland
, and a number of royal personages. Sherwin seems to have worked mainly from his own drawings.
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 the son of William SherwinWilliam Sherwin (minister)
William Sherwin was an English minister. The Dictionary of National Biography suggests that he was either silenced in 1660 or ejected in 1662. He wrote a number of works on biblical and theological themes. His son became a notable engraver.-References:...
(1607–1687?), the nonconformist minister, and was born at Wallington, Hertfordshire
Wallington, Hertfordshire
Wallington is a small village and civil parish in the county of Hertfordshire, near the town of Baldock. Nearby villages include Rushden and Sandon.-George Orwell:...
, where his father was rector around 1645. On his print of his father, dated 1672, he styles himself engraver to the king by patent. He married Elizabeth Pride, great-niece and ward of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG was an English soldier and politician and a key figure in the restoration of Charles II.-Early life and career:...
, whose heir-at-law she eventually became, and there exists a pedigree of the Moncks of Potheridge engraved by Sherwin expressly to show his wife's claim to that position.
Works
Between 1670 and 1711 he engraved in the line style a number of portraits. These comprise large plates of Charles IICharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
, Prince Rupert, Baron Gerard of Brandon
Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield PC was an English aristocrat, soldier and courtier.-Life:The eldest son of Sir Charles Gerard, he was a member of an old Lancashire family, his great-grandfather having been Sir Gilbert Gerard of Ince, in that county, one of the most distinguished judges...
, the Duchess of Cleveland, and Slingsby Bethell. He also made small ones prefixed to books. He engraved the title to John Reynolds
John Reynolds (merchant)
John Reynolds was an English merchant from Exeter, known as a writer. He produced a series of violent stories around marriage, adultery and murder; and also political writings that caused him to be imprisoned.-Life:...
's ‘Triumphes of God's Revenge against Murder,’ 1670, several of the plates in Francis Sandford's ‘History of the Coronation of James II,’ 1687, and the portraits of Dr. William Sermon, prefixed to his works.
Sherwin was one of the first workers in mezzotint, a technique he learned from Prince Rupert. He dedicated to the Prince a pair of large portraits of Charles II and his queen engraved by the method; the former of these is dated 1669, the earliest found on an English mezzotint. Among his other mezzotint plates are portraits of the Duke of Albemarle, Elizabeth Monck, Duchess of Albemarle
Elizabeth Monck, Duchess of Albemarle
Elizabeth Monck, Duchess of Albermarle , was born Lady Elizabeth Cavendish and known for most of her life as the Mad Duchess of Albemarle....
, Adrian Beverland
Adrian Beverland
Adrian Beverland or Adriaan Beverland was a Dutch philosopher and jurist who settled in England....
, and a number of royal personages. Sherwin seems to have worked mainly from his own drawings.