Many thanks! I'll make sure that the SCIART list gets this very
useful reference as well.
Karen
cc: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 09:34:35 +0000
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [HIST-NAT-HIST] Fwd: Query--Admiral Robert Mitford,
> scientific illustrator
>
>To: Karen Reeds <[log in to unmask]>
>Cc: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>
>Christine E. Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World,
>Woodbridge: Antique Collector's Club, 1999 ISBN 1 85149 203 8, has
>this entry:
>
>MITFORD, Robert 1781-1870
>English amateur artist and etcher who was a sailor by profession. He
>was born 26 January 1781 the second son of Bertram Mitford of
>Mitford Castle, Northumberland, and died 15 June 1870 Hunmanby,
>Yorkshire. He joined the Royal Navy and rose to be captain in 1831,
>rear admiral 1846, and admiral of the red 1855. His sister, Tabitha
>Mitford, married Prideaux John Selby of Twizell house,
>Northumberland, and Robert Mitford used his talents as a bird
>painter to help his brother in law with the drawings in watercolour
>and etchings for Selby's Illustrations of British Ornithology, 2
>vols 1819-33 with c.218 plates. His name or initials appeared on 55
>paintings or plates etched after his paintings, and his work
>equalled, if not excelled that of Selby in some prints. Mitford went
>to Newcastle to learn the art of etching from Thomas Bewick in 1819
>and then instructed Selby and together they experimented, first on
>owls and the hawks. One of the finest owls, the tawny, was Mitford's
>work. he also painted seascapes and genre subjects in oils.
>
>In the entry there is a reproduction of Mitford's plate of the tawny
>owl. I would advise trying to contact Christine Jackson to see if
>she still has her research notes and sources for this entry.
>Unfortunately I do not have her address, but perhaps other members
>on the [log in to unmask] mailing do?
>
>Best regards,
>
>Julian Wilson
>
>Julian Wilson
>Specialist, Books Department
>King Street
>CHRISTIE'S
>Tel: +44 (0) 20 7389 2157
>FAX: +44 (0) 20 7976 2832
>www.christies.com
>
>
>
>On 14 May 2009 00:17, Karen Reeds <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> I am forwarding this to [log in to unmask] at the
>>request of Angela Reid.
>>
>>
>>
>> I've combined her original posting to the SCIART-L (scientific
>>illustrators listserve) with a bit of additional information she
>>sent me about Mitford and the sketchbook, and a bit about
>>Selby/Mitford from Elphick's book provided by another SCIART
>>listmember.
>>
>>
>>
>> Could you copy Angela Angela Reid [log in to unmask]> on any
>>replies, please?
>>
>>
>>
>> I've also suggested she check with the Linnean Society.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Karen Reeds
>>
>> cc Angela Reid [log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Angela Reid [log in to unmask]>
>>
>> Subject: Admiral Robert Mitford
>>
>>
>>
>> I wonder if any of you can help me. I have been desperately searching for
>>
>> any/all information on Admiral Robert Mitford. He was my great great great
>>
>> grandfather and I think the source of much artistic talent in our family
>>
>> (not in me unfortunately!). I am trying to put together a family biography
>>
>> but while I know he had a keen interest in all things nautical and also that
>>
>> he was passionate about Egypt, it is only recently that I have discovered
>>
>> that he was a scientific illustrator of birds. I think he had a family
>>
>> connection with Selby and assisted him somehow with his volumes of
>>
>> ornithology, but I know very little else - and that is just what I have
>>
>> gleaned from snippets on websites selling prints of his beautiful birds.
>>
>>
>>
>> Recently I have found an old sketch book of his which has a number of
>>
>> wonderful drawings of ships, and several of birds and this has really fired
>>
>> my interest - so if any one can either fill in some gaps for me or point me
> >
>> in the right direction - I would be really grateful.
>>
>>
>>
>> The Admiral really is a bit of a mystery because somewhere along
>>the line he is supposed to have spent time in Egypt and been a good
>>friend of the Khedive - but official naval records never seem to
>>put him there! He obviously loved drawing whatever anchorage he was
>>in but sadly didn't have time to finish many sketches! There are
>>just a few bird and insect pictures complete - but they are lovely!
>>
>>
>>
>> I would love also to put him in some sort of context - what was going on in
>>
>> the field of Scientific Illustration in the first part of the 19th Century?
>>
>> How were scientific illustrators viewed? Was he unusual in any way?
>>
>> >>
>>
>> Angela www.amhersts-of-didlington.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Appearing in parts for 1821 to 1834, Selby's finest work,
>>Illustrations of British Ornithology, contained a total of 218
>>life-sized illustrations of British birds, usually bound in two
>>great folio-sized volumes -- the first contains 89 plates of land
>>birds, and the second 129 plates of waterbirds. All were done by
>>Selby, apart from a few that were drawn by Jardine and some by
>>Selby's brother-in-law, Robert Mitford, a naval captain who later
>>rose to the rank of admiral..." from: Birds, the Art of
>>Ornithology, by Jonathan Elphick, Rizzoli, New York, 2005, first
>>published by Scriptum Editions in 2004, in association with the
>>Natural History Museum, London.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Karen Reeds, PhD, FLS
>>
>> Guest Curator, Come into a New World: Linnaeus & America
>>
>> American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia, 2007
>>
>> New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ , 2008
>>
>> http://www.americanswedish.org/, http://www.americanswedish.org/linnaeus.htm
>>
>>
>>
>> Exhibition guide available from
>>http://www.dianepublishing.net/category_s/490.htm (p.4)
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
> >
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