Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mitchell, James (1791-1852)
MITCHELL, JAMES (1791–1852), line-engraver, was born in 1791. His most important works were 'Alfred in the Neatherd's Cottage,' 1829, and 'Rat Hunters,' 1830, both after Sir David Wilkie, R.A. He engraved also 'The Contadina,' after Sir Charles L. Eastlake, P.R.A., and 'Lady Jane Grey,' after James Northcote, R.A., for the 'Literary Souvenir' of 1827 and 1832; 'The Farewell,' after Abraham Cooper, R.A.; 'Saturday Night' and 'The Dorty Bairn,' after Sir David Wilkie, and 'The Corsair,' after H. P. Briggs, R. A., for the 'Gem' of 1829, 1830, and 1832; and 'The Secret' after Robert Smirke, R.A., for 'The Keepsake' of 1831. Besides these he produced 'Edie Ochiltree,' after Sir Edwin Landseer and five other illustrations, after Kidd, Stanfield, J. W. Wright, and Alexander Fraser, for the author's edition of the 'Waverley Novels,' 1829-33. He died in London on 29 Nov. 1852, aged 61.
Robert Mitchell (1820–1873), his son, born on 19 May 1820, engraved in mezzotint 'Tapageur, a fashionable Member of the Canine Society,' after Sir Edwin Landseer, 1852, and 'The Parish Beauty' and 'The Pastor's Pet,' a pair after Alfred Rankley, 1853 and 1854; and in the mixed style 'The Happy Mothers' and 'The Startled Twins,' a pair after Richard Ansdell, R.A., 1850, and 'Christ walking on the Sea,' after Robert Scott Lauder, R.S.A., 1854. He also etched several plates, which were completed in mezzotint by other engravers. He died at Bromley, Kent, on 16 May 1873.
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