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John Boydell

British, 1719-1804

John Boydell was a British publisher noted for his reproductions of engravings. He helped alter the trade imbalance between Britain and France in engravings and initiated a British tradition in the art form. A former engraver himself, Boydell promoted the interests of artists as well as patrons and as a result his business prospered.

In the 1790s, Boydell began a large Shakespeare venture that included the establishment of a Shakespeare Gallery, the publication of an illustrated edition of Shakespeare's plays, and the release of a folio of prints depicting scenes from Shakespeare's works. Some of the most illustrious painters of the day contributed, such as Benjamin West and Henry Fuseli.

Throughout his life, Boydell dedicated time to civic projects: he donated art to government institutions and ran for public office. In 1790, he became Lord Mayor of London. The French Revolutionary Wars led to a cessation in Continental trade at the end of the 1790s. Without this business, Boydell's firm declined and he was almost bankrupt at his death in 1804.

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Creator: John Boydell
William Penn's Treaty, Pennsylvania, Engraving, London, 1775
By John Boydell
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
John Hall (1739-1797) William Penn's Treaty With The Indians After Benjamin West, Published by John Boydell, 1775 London, Engraving 17"-inches x 22 1...
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Late 18th Century English American Empire Antique John Boydell

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Paper

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John Boydell furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

John Boydell furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of John Boydell furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for John Boydell furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $795 and can go as high as $795, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $795.

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