William Elliott (engraver) facts for kids

William Elliott (born 1727, died 1766) was a talented English artist. He was known for making beautiful pictures by engraving them onto metal plates.

About William Elliott

William Elliott's engraving of the Montmorency Falls.

William Elliott was born in 1727 at Hampton Court Palace in London, England. He grew up to become a skilled engraver. An engraver is an artist who creates images by cutting lines into a hard surface, usually a metal plate. These plates are then used to print pictures.

A writer named Joseph Strutt, who wrote about engravers in 1785, said nice things about Elliott. He described him as a "kind and friendly person." Strutt also said that "everyone who knew him liked him a lot."

Elliott was especially good at making landscape etchings. These are pictures of natural scenes, like mountains or rivers. People admired how freely and skillfully he used his engraving tool. He died in London in 1766, at his home in Church Street, Soho.

What Did William Elliott Engrave?

William Elliott created many different engravings. He often copied famous paintings by other artists. This was a common way for people to see art before photography existed.

Some of his most important works include:

• A "View in the Environs of Maestricht," which was based on a painting by Aelbert Cuyp.
• A "View of Tivoli," after a picture by Rosa da Tivoli.
• "The Flight into Egypt," after Poelemburg.
• "Kilgarren Castle," after a painting by Richard Wilson.
• Pictures called 'Spring' and 'Summer,' after Jan van Goyen.
• "The Setting Sun" and other nature scenes, after Jean Pillement.
• "The Town and Harbour of Sauzon," after Serres.

He also made engravings based on drawings by other artists like Gaspar Poussin, Paul Sandby, and the Smiths of Chichester.

Engravings of the Siege of Quebec

One interesting series of engravings by Elliott showed events from the Siege of Quebec in 1759. This was an important battle during a war. The drawings were made by Captain Hervey Smyth, who was there during the siege.

Elliott engraved a picture called "A View of the Fall of Montmorenci and the Attack made by General Wolfe on the French Intrenchments near Beauport, 31 July 1759." This engraving shows a specific moment from the battle.

William Elliott showed some of his engravings at the Society of Artists of Great Britain exhibitions. He exhibited his work there from 1761 until his death in 1766.