Description
John Miller, also known as Johann Sebastian Mueller, was a German-born draftsman and engraver, who emigrated to England with his brother Tobias in 1744 as an architectural engraver. He studied in his native Nuremberg under J.C. Weigel and M. Tyroff. He illustrated many botanical works and engraved many plates for John Boydell including genre subjects and prints after old master paintings by Van Dyke, Murillo, Rubens and others, some in mezzotint. He also painted landscapes He signed his name J.S. Muller or J.S. Miller, and in Boydell’s catalogue it appears both ways. He sometimes used the pseudonym “L’Esperance,” but when he exhibited his drawings he always was listed as John Miller. He exhibited them with the Society of Artists between 1762 and 1780 and at the Royal Academy in the 1780s.
John Boydell (1719-1804) was a printseller and engraver. Boydell is credited with encouraging the development of engraving in England. He is well- known for his engravings of scenes from Shakespeare. In 1773, his nephew Josiah Boydell (1752-1817) became his business partner and later his successor, trading as J. & J. Boydell.
Full publication information: J.S. Miller Inv. & Sculpsit 1766. Published by J. Boydell Engraver in Cheapside, London, July, 1766.
Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, wear, handling.
References:
“18th and 19th Centuries.” Washington University of St. Louis University Libraries. 24 August 2004. http://library.wustl.edu/units/spec/exhibits/enchant/18th-19th_centuries.html (12 January 2005).
Davidson, Dee. “Re: Shearjashub Spooner b 1809 s/o PAUL.” 17 May 2003. Ancestry.co.uk SpoonerBoard. http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/5538/surnames.spooner/405 (12 January 2005).
Deane, Ethel, ed. “Boydell and His Engravers.” The Collector, Containing Articles and Illustrations, Reprinted from The Queen Newspaper, of Interest to the Great Body of Collectors, on China, Engravings, Etc, Volume 3. London: Horace Cox, 1907. Online at Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=VBpAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA202 (23 October 2018)
Maxted, Ian. “The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members.” 2001. https://bookhistory.blogspot.com/2007/01/london-1775-1800-b.html and https://bookhistory.blogspot.com/2007/01/london-1775-1800-m.html (23 October 2018).
Rusche, Harry. “Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery.” Department of English, Emory University. 1998. http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/classes/Shakespeare_Illustrated/Boydell.html
Rusche, Harry. “Henry Fuseli.” Department of English, Emory University. 1998. http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/classes/Shakespeare_Illustrated/Fuseli.html
