John Grosvenor, Oxford

Oxford: Published by Mr. Leeming, High Street, & by Mr. Smith Printseller, High Street, 1812. Mezzotint. State ii/ii with the title in open letters. In excellent condition. Image size: 17 1/4 x 13 7/8 inches. A distinguished portrait of John Grosvenor, the noted surgeon from Oxford, by the celebrated mezzotint engraver Charles Turner.

Charles Turner was an excellent engraver who throughout his memorable career produced an array of wonderful images. Born in Oxfordshire, Turner moved to London in 1795, at which time he was employed by the famous engraver and publisher Boydell. Turner was a versatile engraver working in stipple and aquatint as well as mezzotint. Although, Turner produced a wide array of excellent prints in subjects ranging from topography to genre, his main artistic focus was portraiture. Throughout his career he produced more than six hundred plates, of which about two-thirds were portraits. Turner was a close friend of JMW Turner, and engraved many of the artists' paintings, in addition to engraving the plates for 'Liber Studiorum'. For any print connoisseur the work of Charles Turner is highly regarded. As an engraver he combined technical skill with artistic imagination to create beautiful enduring images. John Grosvenor (1742-1823) was a noted surgeon in Oxford. He received his medical education at Worcester College, Oxford and went on to complete his training at the London hospitals. He was very successful in using friction to treat stiff and diseased joints and for a long time he was the most noted practical surgeon in Oxford. He became anatomical surgeon on Dr. Lee's foundation at Christ Church and late in life became the editor of the 'Oxford Journal'.

Whitman, Charles Turner 238, ii/ii; Burgess, Portraits in the Wellcome Institute 1226/1; O'Donoghue, Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits... in the British Museum 1; Lennox-Boyd & Stogdon, state ii/ii.