The Art of Thomas Bewick

Thomas Bewick was an artist from the 18^th to early 19^th century. His medium was that of wood engraving, an extremely difficult method of producing prints. Bewick’s prints helped to establish wood engraving as the pre-eminent method of illustration until the end of the nineteenth century. He illustrated a number of books, but it was his A History of British Birds that set new standards of realism and authenticity.

In The Art of Thomas Bewick, Diana Donald reviews his art in a broad context of the artistic and scientific culture of his age – a fascinating approach. The work of Bewick is examined alongside that of other contemporary illustrators in this beautifully illustrated book which will be of interest to historians of science, art and country life as well as ornithologists and birdwatchers.

Book reviewed by Derek Toomer