Richard Josey

Who was Richard Josey?

Richard Josey was a prominent mezzotint engraver in Victorian London.

Josey was born at Reading in 1840, and received his education at the Reading Blue Coat School. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to Thomas W. Knight, and on the expiration of his apprenticeship he worked in the studio of the Chevalier Ballin. Ballin's influence is evident in Josey's work in stipple and line.

His first commission was reportedly given to him by the firm of Henry Graves and Co., for whom he continued to work for many years. His exhibits at the Royal Academy extended from 1876 to 1887.

He engraved a large number of famous portraits, notably Thomas Carlyle and the equally famous picture of "Whistler's Mother", after James McNeill Whistler; the Earl of Shaftesbury, after Sir John Millais; Cardinal Manning, after Edwin Long; David Garrick, after Gainsborough; Lord Roberts after Walter William Ouless; and Lord Wolsely and several other portraits after Frank Holl. The National Portrait Gallery, London, has 20 portraits engraved by Josey in its collection.