Backhouse and Mounsey collection,, 1819-1856
- Title(s):
- Backhouse and Mounsey collection, 1819-1856.
- Physical Description:
- 2 linear feet (2 volumes + 1 box)
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsMSS 13Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund[Request]
- Copyright Status:
- Copyright Not Evaluated
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/9873251
- Related Content:
- View a description and listing of collection contents in the finding aid
- Classification:
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Notes:
- The collection is open without restriction.
Related material: Pease Family Collection of Sketchbooks and Exercise Books (MSS 6). Yale Center for British Art, Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Edward Backhouse (1808-1879) was a Quaker minister and historical writer. A good amateur painter, he was also interested in natural history, and illustrated several works written by his second cousin James Backhouse, including: Narrative of a visit to the Australian Colonies (1843) and Narrative of a visit to the Mauritius and South Africa (1844). In the 1840s, he self-published collections of his own etchings of birds. Edward Backhouse Mounsey (1840-1911) of Darlington, was the nephew of Edward Backhouse and son of John and Lucy Backhouse Mounsey. In 1878, he married Rachel Ann Fryer. He was a member of the Society of Friends and played an important role in the family banking business. Thomas Mounsey (1793-1850) was the son of Ann Robson and John Mounsey. According to the Annals of Smith of Cantley, Balby, and Doncaster, County York (1878), Thomas devoted much of his leisure time to fine arts, primarily sketching, drawing, lithography, and etching on copper. He collaborated often with his relative Jonathan Richardson, who eventually became a skilled lithographic printer.
The Backhouse family of Darlington, County Durham, were prominent 18th- and 19th-century naturalists and horticulturists. The Backhouses were also Quakers and important bankers. They aligned themselves with the Pease family--also Quakers of Darlington--to become prominent 19th-century industrial financiers (becoming the principal underwriters of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the 1820s).
The collection comprises etchings, lithographs, and drawings by Edward Backhouse, Edward Backhouse Mounsey, and other members of the Backhouse and Mounsey families of Darlington (County Durham) in the early 19th century. The collection demonstrates that a number of family members practiced etching as a hobby. They were also early adopters of lithography, although the quality of the lithographic work is frequently less refined. Some of Edward Backhouse's etchings present in the current collection appear to have been self-published in the 1840s.
The collection is arranged into three series: I. Albums; II. Etchings and drawing book by Edward Backhouse Mounsey; III. Copper plates by Thomas Mounsey. - Subject Terms:
- Animals in art.Art, Amateur -- Great Britain.Backhouse, Edward, 1808–1879.Backhouse, John Mounsey.Backhouse, Lucy Backhouse, 1812–1872.Backhouse, Rachel, 1826–1898.Backhouse, Thomas J. (Thomas James), 1810–1857.Backus family.Barclay, Ann Ford, 1822–1913.Barclay, Elizabeth Gurney.Birds in art.Cave, Henry, 1779–1836.Davison, W.Etching -- Great Britain.Mounsey family.Mounsey, Edward Backhouse, 1840–1911.Mounsey, J. C.Mounsey, Thomas, 1793–1850.Pease, Susan.Pike, Lydia.Quakers -- Great Britain.Richardson, Jonathan, 1802–ca. 1880.Ships in art.Sparkes, J. M.
- Form/Genre:
- Botanical illustrations.
Children's art.
Etchings.
Graphite drawings.
Ink drawings.
Juvenilia.
Landscape drawings.
Lithographs.
Printing plates.
Watercolors.
Sketchbooks. - Export:
- XML