author
John Jackson
1801–1848
Best known for helping shape the art of wood engraving in 19th-century Britain, this Northumberland-born engraver combined practical skill with a strong interest in the history of his craft. His name is especially linked with a classic study of wood engraving that was published after his death.
1 Audiobook
A Treatise on Wood Engraving, Historical and Practical
by William Andrew Chatto, Henry G. (Henry George) Bohn, John Jackson
About the author
Born in Ovingham, Northumberland, in 1801, he became a British wood engraver and was apprenticed in the circle of Thomas Bewick, the great master closely associated with the revival of wood engraving in England. He later worked in London, where his engravings appeared in illustrated books and periodicals.
He is remembered not only for his work as an engraver but also for his contribution to writing about the medium. His most notable book is A Treatise on Wood Engraving, Historical and Practical, a substantial account of the craft that helped preserve its techniques and history for later readers.
Jackson died in 1848. Although he is not among the best-known literary figures of his era, his work sits at an interesting meeting point of art, printing, and publishing, making him an appealing figure for readers curious about how illustrated books were made in the 19th century.