Henry Bromley was the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

of Anthony Wilson (1750?–1814?). He was an English writer on art and author of the ''Catalogue of Engraved Portraits''.

Biography

Anthony Wilson, better known by his pseudonym Henry Bromley, was born at Wigan in 1750. He was perhaps connected with the Wilson family of Kendal, which intermarried with that of Bromley. Wilson belonged to a mercantile firm in the city of London, and was a regular attendant at Hutchins's auction-rooms, where he was detected on one occasion abstracting prints. He also frequented the sale-room of Nathaniel Smith, father of the antiquary, John Thomas Smith (1766–1833). The date of Wilson's death is unknown. His portrait was engraved by Barrett.

Works

In 1793, stimulated by the increased demand for prints consequent on the publication of James Granger's ''Biographical History of England'' (1769), Wilson, under the name of Henry Bromley, published ''A Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits'' (London,

4to Quarto (abbreviated Qto, 4to or 4º) is the format of a book or pamphlet produced from full sheets printed with eight pages of text, four to a side, then folded twice to produce four leaves. The leaves are then trimmed along the folds to produc ...

). He received assistance in the compilation from many leading antiquaries and virtuosi, including Sir

William Musgrave William Musgrave (1655–1721) was a British physician and antiquary. Life He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, where he was a fellow from 1677 to 1692. In 1680 he spent a brief period at the University of Leiden. ...

James Bindley James Bindley (1737–1818) was an English official and antiquary, known as a book collector. Life The second son of John Bindley, a distiller, of St. John Street, Smithfield, London, he was born in London on 16 January 1737. He was educated at ...

, and

Anthony Morris Storer Anthony Morris Storer (1746–1799) was an English man of fashion, politician and collector. Life Born on 12 March 1746, Anthony Morris Storer was elder son of Thomas Storer of Westmoreland, Jamaica (d. Golden Square, London, on 21 July 1793, a ...

. In the ''Catalogue'' Wilson aimed at furnishing a complete list of engraved British portraits, neglecting only those which could not be identified with their originals. He divided his list into historic periods, and subdivided it into groups according to the rank or calling of the persons portrayed. There is a copy in the

British Library The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the British ...

. Edward Evans (1789–1835), the print-seller, states that he was a contributor to the ''Gentleman's Magazine'' (cf. a letter signed ‘A Gothamite,’ in July 1814).

Notes

References

* ;Attribution * This source cites: **Manuscript note by Evans, the printseller, in his copy of Bromley's Catalogue, afterwards in the possession of Sir

George Scharf Sir George Scharf KCB (16 December 1820 – 19 April 1895) was a British art critic, illustrator, and director of the National Portrait Gallery. Biography Early years Scharf was born at 3 St Martin's Lane, London, the son of George Jo ...

; **preface to Bromley's ''Catalogue''; **Evans's ''Catalogue of Engraved Portraits'', vol. i. Nos. 1352, 11360; **Redgrave's ''Dict. of Artists'', s.v. ‘Bromley.’ {{DEFAULTSORT:Bromley, Henry 1750 births 1814 deaths 18th-century English non-fiction writers 18th-century English male writers 18th-century English writers 19th-century English non-fiction writers 18th-century English people English non-fiction writers English male non-fiction writers 19th-century English male writers