See Also: Bewick, Thomas(encyclopedia)
Bewick(dictionary)
Thomas(1)(dictionary)
More, Sir Thomas(dictionary)
Kyd, Thomas(encyclopedia)
St Thomas(dictionary)
Thomas(2)(dictionary)
Thomas, R S(dictionary)
thomas(medicine)
Air St Thomas(tourism)

Bewick, Thomas (sh)




born Aug. 12, 1753, Cherryburn, Eng.
died Nov. 8, 1828, Gateshead

British wood engraver.

At age 14 he was apprenticed to a metal engraver, with whom he later went into partnership in Newcastle; Bewick remained there most of his life. He rediscovered the technique of wood engraving, which had declined into a reproductive technique, and brought to it brilliant innovations, such as the use of parallel lines instead of cross-hatching to achieve a wide range of tones and textures. He also developed a method of printing gray backgrounds to heighten the effect of atmosphere and space. Some of his finest works are illustrations for books on natural history. He established a school of engraving in Newcastle.