No Image Available
for William J. Linton
1812 - 1897
Linton studied drawing at Stratford, England. He was apprenticed to George W. Bonner, a wood engraver, in 1828. He continued his work in engraving, becoming the partner of his former employer, John O. Smith, in 1842. He also began to publish his poetry and take an active role in the Chartist and Republican political movements. During the ensuing years in England, he founded and edited a series of leftist newspapers.
In November 1866, Linton came to the United States for a supposed short trip, but stayed for the rest of his life. He taught wood engraving for several years (1868-70) at the Cooper Union where he became friends with William Rimmer, the school's director. He also began working for Frank Leslie's Illustrated News. Linton began exhibiting his engravings at the National Academy in 1867.
In the early 1870s, Linton moved to a small home near New Haven, Connecticut previously owned by his friend and collaborator, William J. Hennessy. There he founded the Appledore Press and wrote several books on wood engraving including his 1882 History of Wood Engraving in America. At the time of his death, he was a highly respected member of the New York art and literary communities. His will provided for gifts of books and small plaster casts of the Elgin marbles to the Academy.
Lawrie's associate portrait of Linton appeared in both the 1871 Annual and Summer exhibitions, but it received limited press attention. Following these showings, Lawrie requested and received permission from the Council to remove and complete the portrait (NAD minutes, October 31, 1871). In a 1908 letter, Lawrie explained his ties to Linton: 'I painted the portrait of my dear old friend W. J. Linton. There was a bond of sympathy existing between us--he was a wood engraver of the first order. I was familiar with his work from the time it first appeared, and having spent seven years of my youth time working at it could talk about it intelligently.'
Although Linton is not known as a painter, Lawrie's portrait was thought at one time to be a self-portrait by Linton.
In November 1866, Linton came to the United States for a supposed short trip, but stayed for the rest of his life. He taught wood engraving for several years (1868-70) at the Cooper Union where he became friends with William Rimmer, the school's director. He also began working for Frank Leslie's Illustrated News. Linton began exhibiting his engravings at the National Academy in 1867.
In the early 1870s, Linton moved to a small home near New Haven, Connecticut previously owned by his friend and collaborator, William J. Hennessy. There he founded the Appledore Press and wrote several books on wood engraving including his 1882 History of Wood Engraving in America. At the time of his death, he was a highly respected member of the New York art and literary communities. His will provided for gifts of books and small plaster casts of the Elgin marbles to the Academy.
Lawrie's associate portrait of Linton appeared in both the 1871 Annual and Summer exhibitions, but it received limited press attention. Following these showings, Lawrie requested and received permission from the Council to remove and complete the portrait (NAD minutes, October 31, 1871). In a 1908 letter, Lawrie explained his ties to Linton: 'I painted the portrait of my dear old friend W. J. Linton. There was a bond of sympathy existing between us--he was a wood engraver of the first order. I was familiar with his work from the time it first appeared, and having spent seven years of my youth time working at it could talk about it intelligently.'
Although Linton is not known as a painter, Lawrie's portrait was thought at one time to be a self-portrait by Linton.
