Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Downing Street

George Francis Joseph, portrait and subject painter, entered the Royal Academy Schools in London at the age of 20 as an engraver. He later established himself as a portrait painter in London and exhibited at both the Royal Academy and the British Institution. He also painted some fancy pictures and designed book illustrations. His best known works include ‘Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse’ (1797) and ‘Return of Priam with the Dead Body of Hector’ (c.1811). In 1813, he was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. In 1836, Joseph retired to Cambridge, where he died ten years later.
Charles Turner was born in Woodstock, Oxfordshire; the son of an excise officer. At a young age he moved to London, where he was apprenticed to engraver John Jones and studied at the Royal Academy schools. He later produced work in mezzotint, aquatint and stipple for publishers in London and Scotland. He also began publishing his own prints in 1796. In 1812 he was appointed Engraver-in-Ordinary to George III. He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1828. Throughout his career he is thought to have produced 638 portrait engravings and over 300 subject engravings. These were generally made after works by contemporary artists, such as Raeburn, Lawrence and J. M. W. Turner, with whom the engraver enjoyed a long standing friendship.

People

Perceval, Spenser

Places

Subjects

male portrait, 18th century costume, 19th century costume, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Prime Minister, curtain, chair

Materials & Techniques

engraving, mezzotint

Artist

George Francis Joseph (1764 - 1846)
Charles Turner (1774 - 1857)

Title

Spencer Perceval (1762-1812) Chancellor of the Exchequer; Prime Minister

Date

published 1 August 1812

Medium

Engraving and mezzotint

Acquisition

Purchased from F B Daniell, August 1970

GAC number

8790