The BSR houses several records relating to the artist and Rome Scholar in engraving, Job Nixon (1891-1938). Nixon was an artist active across several mediums but was training in engraving during his time in Rome. Catalogues of his works were kept in the BSR archive, and these make note of the name of the print, its size and material. It is also indicated whether or not a piece was sold, and, if so, how much for.
Photographs were also taken of some of Nixon’s works. This is a sketch composition created by Nixon in preparation for his engravings. It speaks to the long process of engraving, which was a delicate and skilled task. The need to make sketches as part of the design process meant that engravers had to be multi-talented. Nixon himself went on to become a renowned watercolourist, a testament to the interdisciplinary nature of engraving.
This image depicts a tavern scene. Note the intricacies of the work, with all the details of people’s hair, faces and clothes, from the figures in the foreground, to the individuals at the back, situated as if they were amidst this bustling scene. The shading and various thickness of the lines was made by varying the depth of the incision made to the metal plate upon which the paper was pressed.
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For a full bibliography and further reading, see here.
