1893 text
Alexander Browne, a printseller, who taught drawing, and practised it with success. He published in 1669, “Ars Pictoria, or an Academy treating of Drawing, Painting, Limning and Etching.”
Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
Alexander Browne, a printseller, who taught drawing, and practised it with success. He published in 1669, “Ars Pictoria, or an Academy treating of Drawing, Painting, Limning and Etching.”
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Alexander Browne, Practitioner of the Art of Limning
Alexander Browne (floruit 1659-1706) moved between several interconnected professions and was a notable figure in the art world of late seventeenth century London. He was variously a 'practitioner of the art of limning' (although none of his paintings or miniatures survives or can be identified); a drawing master (to Mrs Pepys among others); a colourman; the author of drawing manuals (the first in 1660) and of a treatise on art (Ars Pictoria, 1669); an art auctioneer (conducting sales later at his own premises in Gerrard Street, Soho), and a print publisher and printseller. His shop at 'ye Blew Balcony' in Little Queen Street near Lincolns Inn Fields would have contained quantities of prints, books and artists' materials.
Browne died in 1706 and as was usual his widow quickly sold his collections at auction. The sale was advertised:
What is a mezzotint?
A mezzotint (in the Italian sense 'half-tone'; French manière noire; German schabkunst) is a print made using a copper plate which has been worked over ('grounded') using a semi-circular fine-toothed tool ('rocker') so that the entire surface is roughened. In this state, when inked the plate will print solid black. http://www.npg.org.uk/live/mellon.asp
view;
http://www.npg.org.uk/live/mellon.asp#anchor97064
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more of his work
Mary (née Kirke), Lady Vernon
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portra...
Alexander Browne (floruit 1659-1706), Artist; publisher and printseller; auctioneer and dealer
Sitter in 4 portraits
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person...