Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dunstall, John
DUNSTALL, JOHN (fl. 1644–1675), engraver, lived in Blackfriars, where he published some drawing-books of natural history and other educational subjects. On one, entitled ‘Liber Domorum, or Book of Houses,’ he calls himself ‘John Dunstall, schoolmaster. … The Author hereof teacheth the Art of Delineation or Drawing. He dwelleth in Black-Friers, London.’ On another, entitled ‘Geometria, or some Geometricall Figures by way of Introduction to the Art of Pourtraicture, Delineation, or Drawing,’ he says that he has ‘since removed into Ludgate-Streete.’ He was also employed by the booksellers in engraving portraits for frontispieces. Among these were Charles I, Charles II, William III, Queen Mary, Rev. John Carter, minister of Bramford (1644), Archbishop Ussher (1656), Rev. Samuel Clarke (1675), and others. He engraved views of Basing House, Clarendon House, the Custom House, St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, &c. His works are etched and sometimes finished with the burin in the style of Hollar, but have no merit as engravings. There is in the print room of the British Museum a small drawing by him of Bethlehem Hospital, which shows him to have been a skilful draughtsman. According to some accounts he lived in the Strand.
[Huber et Roost's Manuel des Curieux et des Amateurs de l'Art, vol. ix.; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Lowndes's Bibl. Man.; Cat. of the Sutherland Collection.]