John Coney (1786–1833) was an English architectural draughtsman and engraver.

Life

He was born at

Ratcliffe Highway The Highway, part of which was formerly known as the Ratcliffe Highway, is a road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The route dates back to Roman times. In the 19th century it had a reputation for vice and crim ...

, London. He was apprenticed to an architect, but never followed the profession. He commenced making pencil drawings of the interior of

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

and other Gothic buildings as early as the age of fifteen; these he sold to dealers, and other casual customers, at low prices. He died in

Camberwell Camberwell () is a district of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross. Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles and a common of which Goose Green is a remnant. This e ...

in 1833.

Works

In 1815, he published his first work, a series of eight views of the exterior and interior of Warwick Castle, drawn and etched by himself. Shortly afterwards he was employed by Harding to draw and engrave a series of exterior and interior views of the cathedrals and abbey churches of England, to illustrate a new edition of

William Dugdale Sir William Dugdale (12 September 1605 – 10 February 1686) was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject. Life Dugdale was born at Shustoke, near Coleshi ...

's ''Monasticon'', edited by Sir

Henry Ellis Henry Ellis may refer to: * Henry Augustus Ellis (1861–1939), Irish Australian physician and federalist * Henry Ellis (diplomat) (1788–1855), British diplomat * Henry Ellis (governor) (1721–1806), explorer, author, and second colonial Gover ...

. These plates occupied a great portion of his time for fourteen years, and were executed with consummate skill. In 1829, he began the engravings of 'Ancient Cathedrals, Hôtels de Ville, and other public buildings in France, Holland, Germany, and Italy'; which were drawn from life by himself. This work was intended to be in twelve parts, but only eight were published.

Charles Heathcote Tatham Charles Heathcote Tatham (8 February 1772 in Westminster, London – 10 April 1842 in London), was an English architect of the early nineteenth century. Early life He was born in Duke Street, Westminster, the youngest of five sons of Ralph Tath ...

wrote the descriptions. In 1831 Coney began a similar series of the ''Architectural Beauties of Continental Europe'', for which

Hannibal Evans Lloyd Hannibal Evans Lloyd (1771–1847) was an English linguist and translator. Life Born in London, he was son of Henry Humphrey Evans Lloyd and Mary, sister of the Chevalier de Johnstone. An orphan while still young, he was brought up by relatives. ...

wrote the descriptions. This work consists of 28 large plates of remarkable edifices in France, the Low Countries, Germany, and Italy, and 56 vignettes, all drawn and etched by himself. In addition to these undertakings, he executed numerous drawings in pencil, and also in colours, for private commissions; and necessity often compelled him to part with many to picture-dealers and print-sellers. He was employed by the architect

Cockerell Cockerell is a surname, and may refer to: People *Allan Cockerell (1891–1975), New Zealand soldier and politician * Catherine Cockerell Cobb (1903–1995), British jeweler, silversmith, daughter of Douglas *Charles Robert Cockerell (1788–1863), ...

to engrave a very large 'View of Rome', and another plate as a companion to it, neither of which was published. His drawings exhibit all the minutest details without the appearance of labour, yet with a neatness that is truly surprising. A 'View of the Interior of Milan Cathedral' was published after his death for the benefit of his widow. His work is kept in several museums worldwide, including the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

, the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), comprising the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, is the largest public arts institution in the city of San Francisco. The permanent collection of the ...

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Coney, John 1786 births 1833 deaths English engravers Artists from London 19th-century English artists Draughtsmen 19th-century engravers