Rocks at Middleton Dale

Location

Country: Brunei
City: Bandar Seri Begawan
Place: British High Commission

Joseph Farington was born in Leigh, Lancashire, son of the vicar of Leigh and rector of Warrington. He was educated in Manchester and studied under Richard Wilson in London from 1763. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 and became an Academician in 1785. His strength was in pen, ink and wash drawings of topographical views. He made extensive sketching tours of the UK and settled in the North Country from 1776. Works made there led to the publication ‘Views of the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland’ (1785). In 1780 he suffered a breakdown after his wife died. In the next year he moved to London. He died on a visit to his brother in Lancashire, when he fell down steps at Didsbury Church. His personal diaries were published in 1934.
John Scott was best known for producing engravings of sporting and animal subjects, costumes and portraits, made after works by contemporary artists. He was born in Newcastle, the son of a brewery worker. He was apprenticed to a tallow chandler (who sold candles made from animal fat) in the meat market, before being taught drawing and engraving by the engraver and printseller Robert Pollard (1755/6-1839). Scott later relocated to London, where he engraved racehorse portraits for ‘Sporting Magazine’. He died at his home in Chelsea aged 55, following a stroke.

Places

England, Derbyshire

Subjects

topography, landscape C19th, hill, rock formation, stone/rock, cliff, road, path, house

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Joseph Farington (1747 - 1821)
John Scott (1774 - 1827)

Title

Rocks at Middleton Dale

Date

1817

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Sotheby's, 22 February 1977

Provenance

Purchased from Sotheby's, February 1977

GAC number

13026