John Skippe facts for kids
John Skippe (1741–1812) was an English artist who loved art as a hobby, rather than as a full-time job. He was known for his unique wood engravings.
The Life of John Skippe
John Skippe was born on July 7, 1741. His family lived in a place called Ledbury in Herefordshire, England. When he was 18 years old, in 1760, he began studying at Merton College, Oxford University.
After finishing his studies, John Skippe traveled to northern Italy. While there, he spent time drawing and learning from the works of famous old artists. In 1773, he made detailed drawings of the old paintings by Andrea Mantegna in a church in Padua, Italy. These drawings are now kept in the British Museum.
Skippe's Artistic Style
John Skippe is most famous for his special wood engravings. These were made using a technique called chiaroscuro. This technique creates images with strong contrasts between light and dark, making them look almost like paintings. He was inspired by earlier Italian artists like Ugo da Carpi.
Skippe's engravings were considered very artistic. They were even better than those made by another artist, John Baptist Jackson, and looked more like the works of the very old masters. You might also find other drawings by Skippe in art collections. These drawings often show landscapes or religious scenes. He used a brownish color called bistre and drew with a lot of energy. Sometimes, people even thought his drawings were made by much older, more famous artists!
John Skippe never married and passed away on October 14, 1812.
