James Basire
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James Basire, also known as James Basire Sr., (1730-1802) was a British engraver. His father, Isaac Basire (1704-68), was also an engraver.
A member of the Society of Antiquaries, James Basire specialized in prints depicting architecture.[1] His studio was on Great Queen Street in London. Work by Basire hangs in museums and galleries around the world, including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Christchurch Art Gallery, New Zealand, the National Library of Australia in Canberra, and the National Portrait Gallery, London.[1]
On 4 August 1772, a young William Blake was apprenticed to Basire for the term of seven years. There is no record of any serious disagreement or conflict between the two during the period of Blake's apprenticeship. However, Peter Ackroyd's biography notes that Blake was later to add Basire's name to a list of artistic adversaries—and then cross it out.[2]
He assisted in the production of Stuart's Athens and engraved several good portraits of eminent men. He died in London. Among his other works were[3]:
- Captain Cook; after Hodges.
- Lady Stanhope, as the Fair Penitent; after B. Wilson.
- Lord Camden; after Joshua Reynolds.
- The Field of the Cloth of Gold: Henry VIII and Francis I; after the picture at Hampton Court.
- Interview between Orestes and Pylades before Iphigenia; after Benjamin West.
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[edit] References
- ^ James Basire on Artcyclopedia
- ^ 43, Blake, Peter Ackroyd, Sinclair-Stevenson, 1995
- ^ Bryan, Michael (1886). in Robert Edmund Graves: Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Biographical and Critical (Volume I: A-K). York St. #4, Covent Garden, London; Original from Fogg Library, Digitized May 18, 2007: George Bell and Sons, page 227.
[edit] External links
- List of works
- Work by Basire on WorldImages
