Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chesham, Francis
CHESHAM, FRANCIS (1749–1806), was an engraver of merit at the end of the eighteenth century. In 1777 he exhibited at the Royal Incorporated Society of Artists in Piccadilly an engraving of ‘The Death of Richard III,’ after Barralet, and in the following year ‘The Death of William Rufus.’ He was then residing in Broad Street, Golden Square. In 1780 he exhibited with the Society of Artists at Spring Gardens, ‘Inside of the Chapter House at Margam,’ and ‘View of the Abbey Church at Llanthony.’ In 1779–80 he engraved several views of various places in the United Kingdom, after Paul Sandby, for Rooker's ‘Copper Plate Magazine.’ In 1788 the Boydells published two engravings by Chesham, after G. Robertson, ‘A View of the Iron Bridge in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire,’ and ‘A View of the Mouth of a Coal Pit near Broseley in Shropshire;’ these two plates are very well engraved in the style and method brought into fashion by Vivares and his school. Chesham also engraved after his own design a large plate of ‘Moses striking the Rock;’ after Cipriani, he engraved an allegorical figure of ‘Britannia;’ and after Robert Dodd, ‘The Naval Victory gained by Admiral Parker in 1781.’ He died in London in 1806.
[Huber et Roost's Manuel des Curieux et des Amateurs de l'Art, ix. 360; Leblanc's Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes; Müller's Künstler-Lexikon; Catalogues of the Exhibitions of the Society of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880.]