Alexander, William, 1767-1816

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William Alexander studied under Julius Caesar Ibbetson. He served as the "draughtsman" for the Macartney Expedition to China, 1792-1794, sailing in the Hindostan, and making a vast number of sketches. Upon his return to England, he worked up many of these into finished color-wash drawings. A number of these were engraved and reproduced in Sir George Staunton's account of the embassy.

From the guide to the William Alexander engravings., (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)

English artist; 1st Keeper of Prints and Drawings at B.M.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : London, to Mr. Scott, 1814 Jan. 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270875295

English artist and engraver.

Trained at the Royal Academy in the 1780's, Alexander accompanied Lord Macartney's embassy to China in 1792 and was appointed professor of drawing at the military college at Great Marlow in 1802. In 1808 Alexander was named first keeper of prints and drawings at the British Museum, a position he held until his death in 1816.

From the description of William Alexander's watercolor drawings prepared to illustrate George Vancouver's A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean [graphic], [ca. 1796-1798]. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 41275879

Artist.

William Alexander studied under Julius Caesar Ibbetson. He served as the "draughtsman" for the Macartney Expedition to China, 1792-1794, sailing in the Hindostan, and making a vast number of sketches. Upon his return to England, he worked up many of these into finished color-wash drawings. A number of these were engraved and reproduced in Sir George Staunton's account of the embassy.

From the description of William Alexander engravings. 1796. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64745678

Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Chapman, J., person
associatedWith Chapman, J., engraver. person
associatedWith Chatham (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Dadley, J., person
associatedWith Dadley, J., engraver. person
associatedWith Discovery (Ship : Launched 1789) corporateBody
associatedWith Edward E. Ayer Art Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Ellis, Elizabeth, person
associatedWith Ellis, Elizabeth, engraver. person
associatedWith Ellis, William, person
associatedWith Ellis, William, engraver. person
associatedWith Fontaine family. family
associatedWith Heddington, Thomas, 1775 or 6-1860. person
associatedWith Hill, J., person
associatedWith Humphrys, Henry, d. 1799. person
associatedWith Mudge, Zachary, 1770-1852. person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Nicol, G., person
associatedWith Nicol, G., publisher. person
associatedWith Pouncy, A. T., person
associatedWith Pouncy, A. T., engraver. person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
associatedWith Scott, Mr, person
associatedWith Sykes, John, 1770 or 71-1858. person
associatedWith Upcott, William, 1779-1845 person
associatedWith Vancouver Expedition (1791-1795) corporateBody
associatedWith Vancouver, George, 1757-1798 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
China
England
Chile
China
Northwest Coast of North America
Cassiobury Park (Watford, England)
California
Subject
Art, English
Country houses
Deer in art
Illustration of books
Illustrators
Indians in art
Indians of North America
Views
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Watercolorists
Occupation
Artists
Activity

Person

Birth 1767-04-10

Death 1816-07-23

Britons

English

Information

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