E. W. Robinson

Edward William Robinson (1824–1883), usually known as E.W. Robinson, was a nineteenth-century British School artist[1] and illustrator of natural history books such as Alfred Russel Wallace's The Malay Archipelago and Henry Walter Bates's The Naturalist on the River Amazons.

Butterflies from Panama, including Dark Zebra Swallowtail (center). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (vol. 1863, plate XXIX)

Life and career

Longhorn beetles from Penang: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London vol. 1866, plate XLII

Robinson initially worked mainly in engraving, both drawing ("del") and engraving ("sc") the plates. With the decline in engraving caused by photography, Robinson moved into painting in watercolour and other media. He was a relative, most likely the nephew, and pupil of the artist and engraver John Henry Robinson (1796–1871). In some cases the men worked together, as on the engraving of the bust of William Shakespeare, where it is recorded "E.W. Robinson del [drawing]; H. Robinson sc [engraving]".[2] He produced a wide range of work including coloured plates for the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.

Works illustrated by Robinson

Females of Papilio memnon" illustration for The Malay Archipelago

"The Jacuarú (Teius teguexim)" in The Naturalist on the River Amazons, figure 19

Rye, E. C. (1866) British Beetles: an introduction to the study of our indigenous coleoptera, Lovell Reeve.
Shuckard, W. E. (1866) British bees : an introduction to the study of the natural history and economy of the bees indigenous to the British Isles, Lovell Reeve.
Stainton, H.T. (1867) British Butterflies and Moths: an introduction to the study of our native lepidoptera. Lovell Reeve.
Melliss, John Charles (1875) St Helena: A physical, historical and topographical description of the island, including its geology, fauna, flora, and meteorology. Lovell Reeve. "E.W. Robinson, lith[ography]" for 7 plates of geological features and 5 plates of fauna.

References

Arcadja: Edward W. Robinson. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
British Museum: Portrait of William Shakespeare. Retrieved 28 March 2013.

External links

Belz: Proceedings of ZSL
British Museum: Portrait of William Shakespeare
Wellcome Library: Eleven colourful beetles from Penang. Coloured etching by E. W. Robinson, ca. 1866, after himself. (New Coleoptera from Penang ; E.W.Robinson, del et sc.)
The phantom engraver John Henry Robinson

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] Arcadja: Edward W. Robinson. Retrieved 28 March 2013.

[2] British Museum: Portrait of William Shakespeare. Retrieved 28 March 2013.