THOMSON, James

1788 - 1850

James Thomson or Thompson was born on 1 May 1788 and baptised at Mitford, Northumberland on 5 May 1788, eldest of five children of Revd James Thomson (1757-1837) and his wife Ann née Nelson (1759-1794), young James's father was the curate at Mitford and was later rector of Ormesby, Yorkshire. James was apprenticed for seven years to Mackenzie, a London engraver of Margaret Street, he then spent two years working for Anthony Cardon (1772-1813) before setting up in business on his own account. Thomson became an accomplished engraver, developing a unique style by etching design lines on his plates before either line or stipple engraving them. Thomson produced figure and portrait engravings and contributed to many popular illustrated works such as Lodge's 'Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain' (1821-1834), Horace Walpole's 'Anecdotes of Painting' (1826-1828) and Heath's 'Book of Beauty' (1833-1849). Described as a 'xylographist artist' when he exhibited at the Suffolk Fine Arts Association at Ipswich in 1850, a 'Design for a Warrior's Tomb'. James married at St Pancras Church, London in September 1838, Anne Maria Hudson, only daughter of Capt. John Hudson, R.N. James Thomson died at Albany Street, St Pancras, London on 27 September 1850. (The Sun (London) 2 October 1850).

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Works by This Artist