William Ward (engraver)

William Ward, ARA (1766–1826) was an English engraver.

Life

He was the son of James and Rachael Ward, and elder brother of James Ward.

William Ward was appointed engraver to the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales, and associate engraver to the Royal Academy.^[1]

William Ward's brother James was one of the outstanding artists of the day, his singular style and great skill set him above most of his contemporaries, markedly influencing the growth of British art. Regarded as one of the great animal painters of his time, James produced history paintings, portraits, landscapes and genre. He started off as an engraver, trained by William, who later engraved much of his work. The partnership of William and James Ward produced the best that English art had to offer, their great technical skill and artistry having led to images that reflect the grace and charm of the era.^[2]

He was married to Maria Morland, sister of George Morland, and had two children - Martin Theodore Ward, d. 1874 and William James Ward, d. 1840.

References

1. Chisholm 1911.
2. Frankau, Julia Davis (1904). "William Ward, A.R.A., James Ward, R.A., their lives and works". Macmillan and co., limited.

Attribution

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ward, William". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.