Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hassell, John
HASSELL, JOHN (d. 1825), watercolour painter, engraver, and drawing-master, first appears as an exhibitor at the Royal Academy in 1789 with a 'View of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain.' He drew many views of local scenery, which he engraved himself in aquatint, most of them coloured. They were published in various topographical works. He had a large practice as a drawing-master, and published some works on water-colour painting and drawing. Hassell was a friend of George Morland [q. v.], and wrote a life of him, published in 1800; he also engraved Morland's drawing of 'Conway Castle' in aquatint. he died in 1825.
He also published: 1. 'A Tour of the Isle of Wight' 1790, 2 vols. 8vo. 2. A Picturesque guide to Bath, Bristol Hot-Wells, the River Avon and the adjacent Country: illustrated with a set of views taken in the Summer of 1792 by Messrs. Ibbetson, Laporte, and J. Hassell, and engraved in aquatint,' 1793. 3. 'Views of Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats ... in the Counties adjoining London', 1804. 4. 'Beauties of Antiquity' 1806. 5. 'The Speculum or Art of drawing in Water-colours' 1809, which reached three editions. 6. 'Calcographia, or the Art of multiplying Drawings', 1811. 7. 'Aqua Pictura; illustrated by a Series of original Specimens from the Works of Messrs. Payne, Munn, Francis, and others,' 1813. 8. 'Picturesque Rides and Walks, with Excursions by Water, thirty miles round the British Metropolis,' 1818, 2 vols. 9. 'Tour of the Grand Junction Canal', 1819. 10. 'Rides and Walks round London', 1820, 2 vols. 11. 'The Camera; or Art of drawing in Water-colours,' 1823. 12. 'Excursions of pleasure and sports on the Thames', 1823. 13. 'Graphic delineation: a Practical Treatise on the Art of Etching', 1830. All the works are illustrated with engravings in aquatint by Hassell himself.
Hassell, Edward (d. 1852), water-colour painter, son of the above, was in 1841 elected a member of the Society of British Artists, at the rooms of which he had been a frequent exhibitor for some years. He subsequently filled the office of secretary to the society. His works in water-colour are much esteemed. There are five in the national Gallery of Ireland at Dublin, and one of Barrow, Derwentwater, in the Sonth Kensington Museum. he died at Lancaster in 1852. He occasionally exhibited at the Royal Academy and British Institution.
(Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Dodd's manuscript history of English engravers (Brit. Mus. Addit. M.S. 33401); Bryan's Dict, of painters, ed. Graves; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Cat. of books on Art]