Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Emes, John
EMES, JOHN (fl. 1785–1805), engraver and water-colour painter, is best known by his engraving of the picture by James Jefferys of ‘The Destruction of the Spanish Batteries before Gibraltar.’ The etching for this is dated 1786, and as it was published in October 1789 by Emes and Elizabeth Woollett, widow of the celebrated engraver, it is possible that it may have been begun, or intended to have been begun, by Woollett himself. Emes was also a clever water-colour painter, and executed pleasing tinted drawings of views in the Lake district and elsewhere, some of which he exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1790 and 1791. There are three water-colour drawings by Emes in the Print Room at the British Museum, one being a large drawing representing ‘The Meeting of the Royal Society of British Archers in Gwersylt Park, Denbighshire;’ the figures in this are drawn by R. Smirke, R.A., and it was afterwards engraved in aquatint by C. Apostool. A set of sixteen views of the lakes in Cumberland and Westmoreland, drawn by J. Smith and J. Emes, were engraved in aquatint by S. Alken [q. v.]; these were incorporated into West's ‘Guide to the Lakes.’ Emes also engraved some views of Dorsetshire. His collection of prints was sold on 22 March 1810, he being then deceased.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880; Upcott's English Topography; Sale Catalogue of Emes's Collection.]