Home > Thomas Bewick

Bewick was born at Cherryburn in Northumberland, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

His father rented a small colliery at Mickleybank, and sent his son to school at Mickley. Thomas was a poor scholar, but showed, at a very early age, a talent for drawing. He had no lessons in art. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to Ralph Beilby , an engraver in Newcastle. In his office Bewick engraved a series of diagrams on wood, for Dr Hutton, illustrating a treatise on mensuration. He seems thereafter to have devoted himself entirely to engraving on wood, and in 1775 he received a premium from the Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Manufactures for a woodcut of the "Huntsman and the Old Hound." In 1776 he became a partner in Beilby's firm.

His Select Fables ( 1784Events January 6 the Turks agree to Russia's annexation of the Crimea in the Treaty of Constantinople January 14 The U. Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris with England to end the American Revolutionary War February 27 Count of St Germain dies of pneumo), had engravings which were far superior to any that had yet been done. The Quadrupeds appeared in 1790Events January 8 George Washington gives the first State of the Union Address. January 30 The first boat specialized as a lifeboat is tested on the River Tyne. February 1 In New York City the Supreme Court of the United States convenes for the first time., and Bewick's great achievement, that with which his name is inseparably associated, the British Birds, was published from 1797Events January 3 The Treaty of Tripoli (a peace treaty between the United States and Tripoli) is signed at Algiers. January 7 The parliament of the Repubblica Cisalpina adopts the Italian Tricolore as official flag: here starts the story of the Flag of It- 1804Events January 1 End of French rule in Haiti June 15 The Twelfth Amendment to the U. Constitution ratified by New Hampshire, and arguably becomes effective (subsequently vetoed by the Governor of New Hampshire) July 27 The Twelfth Amendment to the U.. Bewick was helped by his intimate knowledge of the habits of animals acquired during his constant excursions into the country. Other works for which he became well known included the engravings for Oliver GoldsmithOliver Goldsmith ( November 10, 1730(?) April 4, 1774) was an Irish writer and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield ( 1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village ( 1770) (written in memory of his brother), and his plays The Good-natur'd's Traveller and Deserted Village, for Thomas ParnellThomas Parnell ( 1679- 1718) was a poet, born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College. He was a friend of both Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, contributing to The Spectator and aiding Pope in his translation of The Iliad. Pope collected and edited hi's Hermit, for William SomervileWilliam Somervile or Somerville ( September 2, 1675 July 19, 1742) was an English poet. Somervile was the eldest son of a country gentleman, and was born at Edstone, Worcestershire. He was educated at Winchester College and at New College, Oxford. After h's Chase and for the collection of Fables of AesopAesop or sop (from the Greek Aisopos , famous for his Fables, is supposed to have lived from about 620 to 560 B. Aesop's Fables are still taught as moral lessons and used as subjects for various entertainments especially children's plays and cartoons. and Others. Bewick had numerous pupils, several of whom gained distinction as engravers. These included his son and later partner, Robert Elliott .

Bewick's art is considered the pinnacle of its medium. This is likely due to his methods; Bewick, unlike his predecessors, would carve in harder woods, against the grain, using fine tools normally favored by metal engravers. This proved to be far superior, and has been the dominant method used since.

His autobiography, Memoirs of Thomas Bewick, by Himself, appeared in 1862. Shortly after Bewick's death, he was commemorated by the naming of a species of swan: Bewick's Swan.