Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Corner, John
CORNER, JOHN (fl. 1788–1825), engraver, is best known by a publication entitled ‘Portraits of Celebrated Painters.’ This work was intended to be a serial, and the first part was published in 1816. The plates combined a portrait of each painter with his most celebrated work, accompanied by a memoir; but as it did not command any sale it only reached twenty-five portraits. Corner was largely employed as an engraver, especially for portraits, among which were: Charles Macklin, actor, from a model by Lochée; Mr. Merry as Calista, after De Wilde, for Bell's ‘British Theatre;’ W. T. Lewis, actor, after M. Brown; John O'Keefe, poet, after W. Lawranson, in the ‘European Magazine,’ 1788; Sir Godfrey Kneller; Simon Vouet, painter, after Vandyck and others. He also engraved ‘Apparent Difficulties,’ from a print by E. Penny. The date of his death is unknown.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Leblanc's Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes; Bromley's Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits; Catalogue of Works on Art (South Kensington).]