The Life and Craft of Thomas Holloway
Thomas Holloway was an English portrait painter and engraver born in London, United Kingdom. His artistic journey began when he was apprenticed to a seal engraver named Stent, a role that involved the carving of steel ornaments. His formal training continued at the Royal Academy, where he studied engraving starting in 1773. During his early career, he exhibited pastel portraits at the Society of Artists and contributed miniatures and portraits in oils and crayons.
Holloway's professional life was marked by significant engagements, including serving as a court engraver in 1792. He was notably involved in a massive, decades-long project to engrave the Raphael Cartoons at Windsor Castle. This ambitious undertaking, which he worked on for thirty years alongside assistants, included plates such as Paul preaching at Athens and The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
Artistic Contributions and Legacy
The scope of Holloway's work extended from small portraits for magazines to complex illustrations for major publications. His engraving work included illustrations for Johann Kaspar Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy and various editions of Shakespeare and British history. His portraiture included subjects such as the Duke of Norfolk and Timothy Priestley.
In his later years, Holloway moved to Norfolk, residing in Edgefield and later Coltishall. His final years were dedicated to the completion of engraving plates, a task he pursued until his death in Coltishall.
