Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Schoff, Stephen Alonzo

SCHOFF, Stephen Alonzo, engraver, b. in Danville, Vt., 10 Jan., 1818. He began engraving under the direction of Oliver Pelton, of Boston, with whom he remained until he was nearly of age, subsequently passing a short time with Joseph Andrews, the engraver, in whose company in 1840 he visited Europe. There he spent about two years in Paris, studying drawing a part of the time at the school of Paul Delaroche, and perfecting himself in his art. On his return to this country he engaged in bank-note work in New York, and soon was employed upon his first important work. “Cains Marius on the Ruins of Carthage,” after Vanderlyn. This plate was issued about 1843, and to expedite its publication and aid the young artist, the master American engraver, Asher Brown Durand, engraved the head and gave some touches to the figure. Other important works from the burin of Mr. Schoff are William Penn, engraved for the Pennsylvania historical society, a folio portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson from a drawing by Rowse, and “The Bathers,” after William M. Hunt. Mr. Schoff's work is executed in pure line, and exhibits much delicacy and a nice appreciation of the feeling of the artist he is reproducing. Recently he has turned his attention to etching, producing some beautiful plates. Mr. Schoff has at different times made Boston, Washington, and New York his home, but at present (1898) he resides at Brandon, Vt., in the active exercise of his profession.