Edward Lear (1812 - 1888)
Lear was was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet. By the age of 16 was already drawing "for bread and cheese" and soon developed into a serious "ornithological draughtsman" employed by the Zoological Society and then from 1832 to 1836 by the Earl of Derby, who kept a private menagerie at his estate, Knowsley Hall. He was the first major bird artist to draw birds from real live birds, instead of skins. Lear's first publication, published when he was 19 years old, was Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots in 1830. One of the greatest ornithological artists of his era, he taught Elizabeth Gould whilst also contributing to John Gould's works and was compared favourably to the naturalist John James Audubon. His eyesight deteriorated too much, to work with such precision on the fine drawings and etchings.
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William Home Lizars (1788 - 1859)
William Home Lizars (1788-1859)
Lizars was born at Edinburgh in 1788. He was an artist and engraver, the son of Daniel Lizars, and brother of the surgeon John Lizars. His sister Jean (Jane) Home married Sir William Jardine. His father was a publisher and an engraver and Lizars was apprenticed to his father. He furthered his studies at the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh. Lizars took over his fathers business on his death. Lizars met J. J. Audubon in Edinburgh in October 1826 and agreed to publish Audubon's, Birds of America. Lizars perfected a method of etching which performed the functions of wood-engraving, for illustration of books.
He died in Edinburgh on 30 March 1859, leaving a widow and family. Lizars took an active part in the foundation of the Royal Scottish Academy.
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