(b London, 16 Feb 1776; d Greenwich, 17 Jan 1843). English engraver of Swiss descent. In 1789 he was articled to the engraver John Hall and subsequently spent nine years as a student at the Royal Academy Schools, London, where in 1799 he was awarded a silver medal for life drawing. While at the Royal Academy he began his professional career by engraving small book illustrations. He visited Paris in 1802, during the respite provided by the Peace of Amiens, and again in 1824 and 1825. In 1835 he was elected a corresponding member of the Institut de France. His best-known engravings were the outcome of his long collaboration with David Wilkie, which started in 1812. His engraving of the artist’s Village Politicians (exh. RA 1806; Scone Pal., Tayside; pubd 1814) was exhibited at the Paris Salon, gaining him a gold medal. Among his other interpretations of Wilkie’s works are: Rent Day (1807–8; priv. col.; engraved 1817); Blind Man’s Buff (1811–13; British Royal Col.; engraved 1822); Distraining for Rent (1813–15; Edinburgh, N.G.; engraved 1828); and Spanish Mother (priv. col.; engraved 1836).

• Raimbach, Abraham
  • Wilkie, David, §1(ii): London, 1805–25