Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dunkarton, Robert

1179043Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 16 — Dunkarton, Robert1888Louis Alexander Fagan

DUNKARTON, ROBERT (fl. 1770–1811), mezzotint engraver, born in London in 1744, was a pupil of Pether. He practised as a portrait-painter at first, but discontinued exhibiting after 1779. In 1762 he was awarded a premium by the Society of Arts. His works in mezzotint bear dates from 1770 to 1811. He scraped over forty portraits, among which were: Henry Addington, after Copley; William, lord Amherst, after Devis; Sarah and Jeffery Amherst, after Robert Fagan; Elizabeth Billington, after Downman; Anne Catley, after Lawranson; James, earl of Fife, after Devis; James, lord Lifford, after Reynolds; Lady Philadelphia Wharton, after A. Vandyck, &c. To these should be added numerous plates, published in 1810–15, in Woodburn's ‘One Hundred Portraits of Illustrious Characters,’ and, in 1816, ‘Fifteen Portraits of Royal Personages.’ Other portraits were sold at Richardson's sale, 22 April 1814, as portraits to illustrate Clarendon and Burnet.

[Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits, pt. i. p. 221.]

L. F.