John Thompson (engraver)

[1] He trained under the wood-engraver Allen Robert Branston, and then collaborated with the artist John Thurston.

[2] He illustrated many books, becoming in the words of Freeman Marius O'Donoghue in the Dictionary of National Biography "the most distinguished wood-engraver of his time", and "perhaps the ablest exponent that has ever lived of the style of wood engraving which aimed at rivalling the effect of copper".

After assisting in organising the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, he moved into photography and became the South Kensington Museum's official photographer.

[1] His other son, Richard Anthony Thompson was an assistant director at the South Kensington Museum (until 1892).

Cowper followed her brother, Charles Thurston Thompson into photography, assuming his role as the South Kensington Museum's official photographer upon his death.

John Thompson's drawing and engraving of the black redstart in William Yarrell 's 1843 History of British Birds .
Rare signature "Thompson Del et Sc" (Thompson drew and carved this) at lower right of black redstart
Stipple engraving of Revd. John Warburton of Trowbridge by John Thompson, 1832. Sold by E. Fowler.