Henry Bryan Hall
Encyclopedia
Henry Bryan Hall was an English stipple engraver and portrait painter.
He was apprenticed to the engravers Benjamin Smith and Henry Meyer. Later he worked for Henry Thomas Ryall
who was designated 'Portrait and Historical Engraver to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria'. Hall produced plates for Ryall's Eminent Conservative Statesmen (1837–38) and assisted in the engraving of seventy portraits for Ryall's plate of The Coronation of Queen Victoria after George Hayter
(1838–42). Hall also engraved portraits of English Protestant martyrs for C. Birch (1839) and provided plates for John Wilson and Robert Chambers's The Land of Burns (1840), Finden's Gallery of Beauty (1841), John William Carleton's Sporting Sketch-Book (1842), and John Kitto
's Gallery of Scripture Engravings (1846–49).
After settling in New York in 1850, he founded the firm of H. B. Hall and Sons, which grew into a flourishing practice, engraving and publishing portraits. He produced images of celebrities from American colonial and revolutionary history for a private club in New York and for Philadelphia collectors. Hall's talents extended to portrait painting, especially in ivory miniatures work. He had painted Napoleon III while still in London, and, after moving to America, painted portraits of the artists Thomas Sully
and Charles Loring Elliott
.
Henry Bryan Hall and Mary A. Denison had four sons and four daughters. Alfred, Alice, Charles, and Henry were accomplished engravers - of these, Henry Bryan Hall Jr. (fl.
1855-1900) fought in the American Civil War
and enjoyed renown for his engraved portraits of its leading figures. Attributing engravings depicting American military and political celebrities to the father or son may be difficult.
He was apprenticed to the engravers Benjamin Smith and Henry Meyer. Later he worked for Henry Thomas Ryall
Henry Thomas Ryall
Henry Thomas Ryall was an English line, stipple and mixed-method engraver and later used mixed mezzotint.Ryall was appointed the royal engraver by Queen Victoria. Forty of his works appear in the National Portrait Gallery in London.-Life:...
who was designated 'Portrait and Historical Engraver to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria'. Hall produced plates for Ryall's Eminent Conservative Statesmen (1837–38) and assisted in the engraving of seventy portraits for Ryall's plate of The Coronation of Queen Victoria after George Hayter
George Hayter
Sir George Hayter was a notable English painter, specialising in portraits and large works involving in some cases several hundred individual portraits...
(1838–42). Hall also engraved portraits of English Protestant martyrs for C. Birch (1839) and provided plates for John Wilson and Robert Chambers's The Land of Burns (1840), Finden's Gallery of Beauty (1841), John William Carleton's Sporting Sketch-Book (1842), and John Kitto
John Kitto
John Kitto was an English biblical scholar of Cornish descent.-Biography:Born in Plymouth, John Kitto was a sickly child, son of a Cornish stonemason. The drunkenness of his father and the poverty of his family meant that much of his childhood was spent in the workhouse. He had no more than three...
's Gallery of Scripture Engravings (1846–49).
After settling in New York in 1850, he founded the firm of H. B. Hall and Sons, which grew into a flourishing practice, engraving and publishing portraits. He produced images of celebrities from American colonial and revolutionary history for a private club in New York and for Philadelphia collectors. Hall's talents extended to portrait painting, especially in ivory miniatures work. He had painted Napoleon III while still in London, and, after moving to America, painted portraits of the artists Thomas Sully
Thomas Sully
Thomas Sully was an American painter, mostly of portraits.-Early life:Sully was born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, to the actors Matthew and Sarah Sully. In March 1792 the Sullys and their nine children immigrated to Richmond, Virginia, where Thomas’s uncle managed a theater...
and Charles Loring Elliott
Charles Loring Elliott
Charles Loring Elliott was an American painter known for his portraits. He was active in central New York for 10 years as a young man, then in 1845 moved to New York City to pursue his career. He was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1846.-Early life and education:Elliott was born at...
.
Henry Bryan Hall and Mary A. Denison had four sons and four daughters. Alfred, Alice, Charles, and Henry were accomplished engravers - of these, Henry Bryan Hall Jr. (fl.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1855-1900) fought in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and enjoyed renown for his engraved portraits of its leading figures. Attributing engravings depicting American military and political celebrities to the father or son may be difficult.