James Ripper ( 1840 - 1916)

Born in Cornwall Ripper’s Prodromus contribution was limited to the Bryozoan plates, as he worked exclusively for Paul Howard McGillivray. It is unclear whether this professional arrangement was due to anything other than geography. The arts-centric Ripper would likely have crossed paths with McGillivray at the Bendigo Institute, where the latter was both founder and an influential member.

James Ripper was first employed in the lithography of the Bryozoan plates for decade five, published in 1880. Within five years this had developed to the stage where he and McGillivray co-drafted the illustrations for decade ten, but Ripper ceased drafting for the final six decades, although he continued the lithography.

This may have been due to the rather simplistic nature of Ripper’s drafting, or simply McGillivray’s frugality in the economic climate of the late 1880s. But as has been noted, Ripper’s rendering, whilst simpler than earlier works, was much larger and clearer.

While it appears Ripper did no other lithographic or drafting work in his lifetime, he had a lucrative career as an instrument tuner. At the conclusion of the Prodromus, he returned to an amateur interest in art.