Francis Jukes
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Francis Jukes (1745–1812) was a prolific engraver and publisher, chiefly known for his topographical and shipping prints, the majority in aquatint. He contributed numerous plates to various publications including "Walmsley's Views in North Wales" (1792–4) and "Campbell's A Journey in Scotland" (1802) and collaborated on several projects with the engraver and publisher Robert Pollard.
Francis Jukes was born in Martley, Worcestershire in 1745. He became famous for his, engraving and aquatint work, particularly using a technique he developed with Paul Sandby (1725–1809), a Watercolour painter and engraver from 1774 onwards.
Jukes, at first an etcher and line engraver, later an aquatint engraver was based at 3 Hosier Lane in London, between Holborn and The City, insuring his premises for £50. He lived for 20 years at 10 Howland Street 1794–1808. Then 57 Upper John Street (now Whitfield Street), Fitzroy Square 1808–1812. He traded alone 1790–1802; later as Jukes and Sargent 1809–1811.
One of his earliest engravings can be found in Sandby's "A New Drawing Book", published in 1779.
In 1780 he produced illustrations of "A Country Racecourse".
Thereafter he produced a prolific number of engravings and aquatint work, often collaborating with others such as William Sawrey Gilpin, Thomas Rowlandson and James Pollard.
Another collaborator was the animal genre painter and draughtsman Charles Ansell (b. 1752) renowned for his graceful images of horses; his most celebrated work, "Life of a Racehorse", was published by Jukes in 1784.
In 1785 he produced a fine engraving of Vauxhall (outer London), drawn by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827),engraved by Robert Pollard (1755-1838) and Aquatinto by Jukes himself.
This was followed by more classically derived work with "St. Preux and Julia", "Henry and Jessy" all in 1786.
He recorded current events with the "The Attempt to Assassinate the King" a scene depicting the attempt made by Margaret Nicholson to assassinate King George III at the entrance to St. James's Palace on August 2, 1786.
"Courtship" and "Matrimony" and a fine set of "London Squares" including a highly collectable "View of Hanover Square", by artist Edward Dawes, engraved by Pollard and Jukes followed in 1787.
From 1788 he began to develop much wider themes, illustrating "Views in the Pacific", based on sketches from Captain Cook's Third Voyage. He also worked on illustrations of Mount Vernon in Virginia, home of George Washington and New York. Also in the same year (1788) his engravings of the racehorse "Highflyer", "Foxhound Modish" and "Pointer Dash" were produced as part of his continuing work with rural themes. In 1780 he produced a series (eight plates) of horses at full gallop called "The Pytchley Hunt"; the artist Charles Loraine Smith (1751-1835).
1794 saw two nostalgic engravings, "A Visit to the Uncle" and " A Visit to the Aunt". At the turn of the century Francis Jukes was fully engaged with rural themes, illustrating Edward Dayes (1763-1804) collection of "Views on The Wye" in 1797, Nicholson's "Views of England" and "Views of Ireland" (1800–1), a "View of Brielle" (in Holland),and working on Campbell's "A Journey to Scotland" in 1802, the same year he produced a pair of high quality engravings of "A Two Year Old Ram" and "A Two Year Old Ewe" of the New Leicestershire Breed".
Francis Jukes died in 1812 at Upper John Street, London; having worked with engraving and aquatint alongside the great illustrators of the late eighteenth century. His work is highly collectable, fetching from a few hundred pounds for single prints to £3,000 for his complete sets.
