Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parkinson, Thomas (fl.1769-1789)
PARKINSON, THOMAS (fl. 1769–1789), portrait-painter, is chiefly known as a painter of theatrical figures and groups. He, however, also practised regularly as a portrait-painter, and exhibited portraits at the Free Society of Artists in 1769 and 1770, and at the Royal Academy from 1773 to 1789. Some of these were engraved, including those of Dr. William Balmain (by R. Earlom), William Woodfall (by J. Jehner), Jonathan Britain (by J. R. Smith), and others. Among his theatrical groups were ‘Mr. Weston in the character of Billy Button in the “Maid of Bath”’ (Incorporated Society of Artists, 1772); ‘Mr. Shuter, with Mr. Quick and Mrs. Green, in a scene from “She stoops to conquer”’ (engraved by R. Laurie, 1776); ‘A Scene from Cymon’ (Royal Academy, 1773); ‘A Scene from The Duenna’ (Royal Academy, 1774); ‘Garrick led off the Stage by Time with Tragedy and Comedy’ (engraved by R. Laurie, 1779), &c. A number of Parkinson's small theatrical portraits were engraved. Some of the original drawings for these are in the Burney collection of theatrical portraits in the print-room at the British Museum.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Chaloner Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880.]