James Peller Malcolm (1767–1815) was an American-English topographer and engraver.

Life

Son of a merchant in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, he was born there in August 1767. He was admitted to the Quaker school; but his family left to avoid the fighting in

American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

, and his education was mostly at

Pottstown, Pennsylvania Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the incorporation as a borough in 1815. In 1888 ...

. He returned with his family to Philadelphia in 1784, after the conclusion of peace. Acting on the advice of Mr. Bembridge, a relative and fellow-student of

Benjamin West Benjamin West, (October 10, 1738 – March 11, 1820) was a British-American artist who painted famous historical scenes such as '' The Death of Nelson'', ''The Death of General Wolfe'', the '' Treaty of Paris'', and '' Benjamin Franklin Drawin ...

, he went to London, and pursued artistic studies for two years in the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

. Finding that

history painting History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and Bible ...

and

landscape painting Landscape painting, also known as landscape art, is the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, especially where the main subject is a wide view—with its elements arranged into a coherent compos ...

were not much in demand, he took to engraving and the compilation of books on topographical and historical subjects. He was elected a

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

. He died in Gee Street, Clarendon Square, London, on 5 April 1815, leaving his mother and wife unprovided for.

Works

Many of his engravings are in the ''

Gentleman's Magazine ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term ''magazine'' (from the French ''magazine'' ...

'', from 1792 to 1814. His ''Excursions through Kent'' and works in John Nichols's ''History of Leicestershire'', were long-term projects. He engraved and published three views of Leathersellers' Hall, on the site of the Priory of St. Helen's, London, and two large plates of the inside of the Middle Temple Hall, and one external view, under the auspices of the society. Leatherseller's Hall, London

Malcolm's major work was ''Londinium Redivivum, or an Antient History and Modern Description of London, compiled from Parochial Records, Archives of various Foundations, the Harleian MSS. and other authentic Sources'' (4 vols. London 1802–7). It was a parochial history compiled from original records, such as vestry-books, churchwardens' accounts, and parochial registers. The dean and chapter of

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

gave him free access to their archives. The work is accompanied by forty-seven plates. Malcolm's other publications were: * Seventy-nine plates to illustrate Daniel Lysons's ''Environs of London'' (1797–1800). * ''Twenty Views within Twelve Miles of London'' (1800)' * ''Letters between the Rev. James Granger, M.A., and many of the most eminent Literary Men of his Time''(1805). * ''First Impressions, or Sketches from Art and Nature, Animate and Inanimate'' (1807). * ''Excursions in the Counties of Kent, Gloucester, Hereford, Monmouth, and Somersetshire in 1802, 1803, and 1805; illustrated by Descriptive Sketches'' (1807; second edition 1814, with twenty-four plates). * ''Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century; including the Charities, Depravities, Dresses, and Amusements of the City of London during that Period; with a Review of the State of Society in 1807. To which is added a Sketch of the Domestic and Ecclesiastical Architecture, and of the various Improvements in the Metropolis, illustrated by fifty Engravings'', (1808; another edition 1810). * ''Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London, from the Roman Invasion to the Year 1700, illustrated by eighteen Engravings'' (1811). * ''Miscellaneous Anecdotes, illustrative of the Manners and History of Europe during the Reigns of Charles II, James II, William III, and Queen Anne'' (1811). * ''An Historical Sketch of the Art of Caricaturing, with graphic Illustrations'' (1813).

Gallery

File:Dress in 1779, Malcolm.jpg, Dress in 1779, from ''Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London'' vol. 2, 1810

References

;Attribution

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Malcolm, James Peller 1767 births 1815 deaths 18th-century engravers 19th-century engravers American engravers British engravers American topographers Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London