John Scott (engraver)

John Scott(1774–1827) was an Englishengraver,known for his work on topics showing animals.

Life

He was born on 12 March 1774 atNewcastle-on-Tyne,where his father, John Scott, worked in a brewery. At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to atallow-chandler;but at the end of his articles went to London, where his fellow-townsmanRobert Pollardgave him two years' instruction, at the same time paying him.

On leaving Pollard, Scott obtained employment from John Wheble, the proprietor of theSporting Magazine,and for many years executed the portraits of racehorses published there. He became known among English animal engravers.

Scott worked until 1821, when a stroke of paralysis practically terminated his career; during the last years of his life he was assisted by theArtists' Benevolent Fund,of which he had been one of the originators. Scott died at his residence inChelsea, London,on 24 December 1827. He left a widow, and several daughters; one son, John R. Scott, also became an engraver, and executed some plates for theSporting Magazine.

A portrait of Scott, drawn byJohn JacksonR.A. in 1823, was engraved byWilliam Thomas Fryand published in 1826. A crayon portrait by his son went to the print-room of theBritish Museum.

Works

Scott's works included:

• William Barker Daniel'sBritish Rural Sports,1801, many of the plates in which were both designed and engraved by him;
• Sportsman's Cabinet, a correct delineation of the Canine Race,1804;
• History and Delineation of the Horse,1809; and
• Sportsman's Repository, comprising a series of engravings representing the horse and the dog in all their varieties, from paintings by Marshall, Reinagle, Gilpin, Stubbs, and Cooper,1820, which made Scott famous.

Col. Thornton, Breaking CoverbyPhilip Reinagle,engraving by John Scott.

A pair of large plates,Breaking Cover,afterPhilip Reinagle,andDeath of the Fox,afterSawrey Gilpin,issued in 1811, are regarded as his masterpieces. Scott also did much work for publications of a different kind, such asHenry TreshamandWilliam Young Ottley'sBritish Gallery,Ottley'sStafford Gallery,John Britton'sFine Arts of the English School,James Hakewill'sTour of Italy,andPeter Coxe'sSocial Day.

References

• "Scott, John (1774-1827)".Dictionary of National Biography.London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:"Scott, John (1774-1827)".Dictionary of National Biography.London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.