John Samuel Agar facts for kids
John Samuel Agar (born 1773, died 1858) was an English artist. He was known for painting portraits and for making engravings. An engraver is an artist who creates pictures by carving designs onto a surface, often metal, which can then be used to print many copies.
Agar showed his artwork in famous art shows. He exhibited his paintings at the Royal Academy from 1796 to 1806. He also showed his art at the British Institution until 1811. After a break, he started exhibiting again in 1836.
Agar's Role in Art
John Samuel Agar was a respected artist in his time. He even became the president of the Society of Engravers. This shows he was a leader among artists who specialized in engraving.
His Engraving Style
Agar mostly used a technique called stipple engraving. This is a special way of engraving where the artist uses tiny dots instead of lines to create an image. These dots can be close together or far apart to make different shades and textures.
He created many engravings based on the works of other artists. For example, he made prints after paintings by Richard and Maria Cosway. He also made a series of pictures about the months of the year, based on art by Edward Francis Burney. These were published by Rudolf Ackermann between 1807 and 1809.
Famous Illustrations
One of Agar's most important projects was illustrating a book by Richard Payne Knight. The book was called Specimens of Ancient Sculpture. It showed ancient sculptures from Egypt, Etruria, Greece, and Rome. These sculptures were found in different collections across Great Britain.
A famous art expert named Nicholas Penny said that Agar's illustrations for this book were "the finest ever made of sculpture." This means his detailed engravings perfectly captured the beauty and history of these ancient artworks.
