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Bewick, Thomas

Bewick, Thomas (byOO'ik) [key], 1753–1828, English wood engraver. Bewick pioneered in the revival of original wood engraving. Among his famous early works are his illustrations for Gay's Fables (1779) and Select Fables (1784) and for Ralph Beilby's General History of Quadrupeds (1790). In 1789 he engraved the Chillingham Bull, considered one of his finest blocks. He is best known for his classic illustrations of Beilby's History of British Birds (2 vol., 1797–1804).

See his memoirs (1862); studies by A. Dobson (1884, repr. 1969), R. Ruzicka (1943), and G. Reynolds (1949).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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