Charles Wilkin facts for kids
Charles Wilkin (born around 1750 – died May 28, 1814, in London) was a talented English artist. He was known as an engraver, a painter, and a publisher. Wilkin showed his art at the famous Royal Academy in London from 1783 to 1808. He is most famous for his special way of making prints called stipple engravings.
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Who Was Charles Wilkin?
Early Life and Career
Charles Wilkin was born in the mid-1700s. He became a skilled artist in England. He worked as an engraver, which means he made pictures by carving designs into metal plates. He also painted and published his own artworks.
Exhibiting at the Royal Academy
The Royal Academy is a very important art institution in London. Charles Wilkin proudly showed his paintings and engravings there for many years. His work was displayed between 1783 and 1808. This shows he was a respected artist of his time.
Famous Artworks and Engravings
Notable Paintings and Prints
Wilkin created many beautiful pieces. Some of his most well-known works include "Lady Cockburn and her Children." He made this print in 1792, based on a painting by Joshua Reynolds. Another famous work was "Mrs Parkyns," created in 1795 after a painting by John Hoppner.
The "Portraits of Ladies" Series
Charles Wilkin also published a special collection of ten prints. These were called "Portraits of Ladies of Rank and Fashion." He made these prints using his stipple engraving technique between 1797 and 1803. Three of these portraits were based on his own paintings. The other seven were based on paintings by John Hoppner. Wilkin sometimes found it hard to get Hoppner's original paintings to work from.
Wilkin's Unique Engraving Style
Wilkin's engravings were very special. Experts say they are some of the best examples of stipple engraving. He used a mix of etched lines and a tool called a roulette. This helped him keep a drawing-like feel in his prints. It was hard to create a unique style with stipple engraving, but Wilkin managed to do it. His work stood out from others.
Family and Legacy
His Sons, Frank and Henry
Charles Wilkin had two sons who also became artists. Frank Wilkin (born 1800, died 1842) and Henry Wilkin (born 1801, died 1852) followed in their father's footsteps. They also showed their paintings at the Royal Academy. This shows that artistic talent ran in the Wilkin family.
