Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Dalton, Richard
DALTON, RICHARD (1715?–1791), draughtsman, engraver, and librarian to the king, born about 1715, was the younger son of the Rev. John Dalton of Whitehaven in Cumberland. His elder brother, the Rev. John Dalton, D.D., was rector of St. Mary-at-Hill, London, and of some note as a divine (cf. Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715-1886). Dalton, who was trained as an artist, and went to Rome to pursue his studies, in 1749 travelled with Roger Kynaston and John Frederick to Naples, South Italy, and Sicily, where they joined a party consisting of James Caulfeild, earl of Charlemont [q.v.], Francis Pierpoint Burton, and others. From thence Dalton accompanied Lord Charlemont on his tour to Constantinople, Greece, and Egypt. He was the first Englishman to make drawings of the monuments of ancient art in these countries. Some of these he etched and engraved himself. A 'Selection from the Antiquities of Athens' was the first publication of its kind, but it was quickly put into the shade by the more accurate and trustworthy publications of James Stuart (1713-1788) [q. v.] and Nicholas Revett [q. v.] Dalton published some other sets of engravings of 'Monuments, Manners, Customs, &c.,' in Turkey and Egypt, but his drawings and engravings are of little value from either an artistic or an antiquarian point of view.
Dalton managed to obtain the position of librarian to George III when prince of Wales, and, after the king's accession, was continued in his post through the favour of the earl of Bute. He was subsequently appointed keeper of the pictures and antiquarian to his majesty. He was the first artist to engrave the famous series of portraits drawn by Hans Holbein, which had been discovered by Queen Caroline at Kensington Palace, but neither these etchings nor a set on a larger scale published by him a few years later have any artistic merit. Dalton was sent abroad to purchase works of art for the king, and at Venice in 1763 made acquaintance with Francesco Bartolozzi [q.v.], the engraver, and obtained for him an introduction to England as a rival to Sir Robert Strange [q. v.], who did not shrink from accusing Dalton of using undue influence with the king in order to assist Bartolozzi. Dalton was one of the original committee who in 1755 drew up the first project for the establishment of a Royal Academy of Fine Arts in England. He was one of the original members of the Incorporated Society of Artists in 1765, and became their treasurer. He purchased a large house in Pall Mall, to be used as a print warehouse; but as this did not succeed he established there the first nucleus of an academy of arts, under the protection of the king, and induced the former academy in St. Martin's Lane to transfer its students and its paraphernalia thither. The scheme was, however, of short duration, and Dalton disposed of the premises to James Christie (1731–1803) [q. v.], who commenced his famous career as an auctioneer there. Dalton continued to use his influence with the king towards the creation of a Royal Academy of Arts, and, when the Royal Academy was really started, he was elected antiquarian to the academy. Dalton died at his rooms in St. James's Palace on 7 Feb. 1791. He married, on 25 June 1764, Esther, daughter of Abraham Deheulle, silkweaver, of Spitalfields, but left no legitimate issue. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1767.
[Gent. Mag. 1791,i. 188, 195; Lumisden's Memoirs of Sir Robert Strange; Sandby's Hist. of the Royal Academy; Pye's Encouragement of Art in Great Britain; Cust's Hist. of the Society of Dilettanti.]