Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parr, Remigius
PARR, REMIGIUS (fl. 1747), engraver, is stated to have been born at Rochester in Kent in 1723, and to have studied engraving in London and on the continent. He never, however, attained any artistic skill as an engraver, though he has left some engravings of historical and antiquarian importance. He was largely employed by John Bowles, the publisher, at the Black Horse in Cornhill, and Thomas Bowles, in St. Paul's Churchyard. For the latter he executed some plates from the paintings at Vauxhall by Francis Hayman [q. v.], Peter Monamy [q. v.], and others; and also a large plate from a drawing by J. Freeman of the ‘Trial of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, in Westminster Hall,’ published by Bowles on 30 June 1747. This engraving is reproduced on a smaller scale in ‘Lives of Twelve Bad Men,’ ed. Seccombe, 1894. Parr also engraved a few portraits and book illustrations, some plates of horses after Seymour, Wootton, and Tillemans, and some humorous plates of little importance.
Nathaniel Parr (fl. 1730–1760), engraver, appears to have been either father or elder brother of the above. He engraved in a precisely similar manner, and was also employed by Bowles. He engraved several portraits and other plates for books, and several architectural works, including views of buildings in London and some of buildings in Florence, after Giuseppe Zocchi. He also engraved a set of twelve marine subjects after P. Monamy, and some of the paintings in Vauxhall Gardens. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the works of Remigius and Nathaniel Parr.
[Dodd's manuscript Hist. Engl. Engravers, Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 33403; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Leblanc's Manuel d'Estampes pour l'Amateur.]