James Heath, the Engraver, who worked in London and lived from 1779 to 1834. Associate of the Royal Academy.

James Heath ARA
of London, Engraver
1757-1834

Born: 19 April 1757 and died 17 November 1834.
Son of: George Heath (?-1773), the Bookbinder, and Mary (previously Mrs Jacob, possibly Humball?).
Brother of:
1. Joseph Heath who became a bookbinder (1754-1820?) and never married.
2. William Heath (1755-1758).
3. Hannah Heath (1758-1774).
4. Sarah Botheroyde (nee Heath) (1759-?) who married in 1779 John Botheroyde (?-1813).
5. Robert Heath (1761-1765).
6. William Heath (1763-1774).
7. George Heath (1766-1821) who trained as a bookbinder and then became a builder (1766-1821). George married in 1790 Mary Fielding (1760?-1843).
8. Ann Heath (1768-?) who died before 1774.
James married: 1st Eliza (or Elizabeth) Thomas (?-1835), 2nd Mary Phillipson.
James and Eliza had issue:
1. George Heath (1778-1852) who married Ann Raymond Dunbar (1787-1842), 1806.
James and Mary had issue:
2. Caroline Hamilton (nee Heath, 1784-?) who married Samuel Hamilton.
3. Amelia Clara Dollman (nee Heath, 1794-18??) who married Rev Frank (or Francis?) Dollman.
4. Clara Pitman (nee Heath) who married George Pitman.
5. Charles Heath, the engraver (1785-1848) who married Elizabeth Petch (?-1861).
6. Harriet Dollman (nee Heath, 1789-18??) who married Edward Dollman.
7. Matilda Sophia Heath (nee Heath, 1792-1864) who married her second cousin William Tyler Heath (1787-1852).

James Heath was very well known in his time and we find references to him in many books that cover art and engraving in the 18th and 19th century. Possibly the best reference is the three book set "The Heath Family Engravers" by John Heath, published in 1993 and 2000, copies of which can still be obtained from the author.

James Heath was apprenticed to the Engraver Joseph Collyer in 1771 and the earliest known engraving bearing James's name was published in 1779. During his early years he produced an immense number of engravings after designs by the artist Thomas Stothard RA. As James progressed through his career he was to come into contact with many of the other famous artists of the time including; Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Henry Raeburn, JMW Turner, John Copely, James Barrie, Richard Westall and numerous others.

James's initial works were predominantly book illustrations for a variety of publications. One of his early successes was the "Novelist' Magazine", which ran for 23 volumes from 1780-1788 and presumably established his reputation. These volumes were published by Harrison & Co and many similar works followed including the "Ladies Poetical Magazine" and "British Classicks".

The scope of James's work widened as he gained commissions for work from many other publishers including; J Johnson, T & W Lowndes, Charles Dilly, John Stockdale, T Cadell & W Davies, GGJ & J Robinson and J Boydell. On occasions James also published in his own name and one of his biggest projects was the six volume set titled "Heath's Shakespeare", 1802.

A small card exisits advertising James Heath's services as a drawing master available for tution in Bath (8 Chapel Row, Queen Square). While it is assumed that James was predominantly an engraver, presumably he did give lessons from time to time but only infrequently as there is no other record of him as a drawing master.

In addition to engraving plates for books, James produced separate prints for framing. Many of these were small portraits but he also produced a number of major works some of which took years to complete:

1789, "Archery at Blackheath" by Joseph Slater, 58cm by 33cm.
1790, "The Riot in Broad Street" by Francis Weatley, 42cm by 59cm.
1792, "Jupiter & Semele" by Cipriani, 26cm x 37cm.
1792, "Diana & Endymion" by Cipriani, 26 cm x 37cm.
1795, "The Dead Soldier" by J Wright, 46cm by 61cm.
1796, "The Death of Major Pierson" by John Singleton Copley, 55cm by 76cm.
1811, "The Death of Lord Viscount Nelson" by Benjamin West, 48cm by 64cm.
1820, "The Drowned Fisherman" by Richard Westall, 43cm x 58cm.
Not dated, "Mary introducing Jesus to John the Baptist" by Rafael, 61cm x 43cm.

In 1817 James completed Thomas Stothard's "Pilgrimage to Canterbury" which had originally been started by the engraver Louis Schiavonetti. This engraving measured 27cm by 93cm.

Of the large number of portraits completed by James during his career, possibly the most well known was of "George Washington", after the painting by Gilbert Stuart, 1800, (50cm x 33cm). Some of the other portraits include:

1796, "John Bannister in the charactor of Walter" by Richard Westall, 38cm x 46cm.
1799, "Samuel Johnson" by Joshua Reynolds, 16cm x 13cm.
1801, "Lord Nelson" by Lemuel Francis Abbott, 42cm x 33cm.
1804, "Richard Colley Wellesley, Governor General of India" by Robert Home, 64cm x 46cm.
1804, "Robert Roy" by M A Shee, 43cm x 34cm.
1805, "William Henry West Betty as Hamlet" by James Northcote, 58cm x 40cm.
1807, "William Henry West Betty as Young Norbal" by John Opie, 50cm x 34cm.
1807, "William Wilberforce" by J Russell, 30cm x 25cm.
1813, "Robert Blair of Avontoun" by Sir Henry Raeburn, 44cm x 36cm.
1813, "Sir Joseph Radcliffe Bart" by W Owen, 50cm x 32cm.
1815, "William Pitt, High Stewart of the University of Cambridge" by EF Burney, 55cm x 25cm.
1815, "Titian's Daughter" by Titian, 31cm x 26cm.
1830, "William Markham, late Archbishop of York" by John Hoppner, 43cm x 34cm.
Not dated, "George Brookes" by Woodforde, 28cm x 22.
Not dated, "Rev'd Thomas Jone MA, late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge" by Morland, 30cm x 25cm.

James Heath had his own portrait painted by many of the artists of the day. Some of the known portraits include:

For those interested in collecting works by James Heath, books with engravings by him do turn up from time to time in Antiquarian bookshops and can be bought from as little as £10 each or as much as £10,000. Separate prints can also be found on occasions in the general art market and sell from £10 to £1000 each. I do have some spare books for sale. If these are of interest please click here.