Henry Bromley (writer)

In 1793, stimulated by the increased demand for prints consequent on the publication of James Granger's Biographical History of England (1769), Wilson, under the name of Henry Bromley, published A Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits (London, 4to). He received assistance in the compilation from many leading antiquaries and virtuosi, including Sir William Musgrave, James Bindley, and Anthony Morris Storer. In the Catalogue Wilson aimed at furnishing a complete list of engraved British portraits, neglecting only those which could not be identified with their originals. He divided his list into historic periods, and subdivided it into groups according to the rank or calling of the persons portrayed. There is a copy in the British Library. Edward Evans (1789–1835), the print-seller, states that he was a contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine (cf. a letter signed ‘A Gothamite,’ in July 1814).^[2]

• Grindle, Nicholas (January 2008) [2004]. "Wilson, Anthony [Henry Bromley] (1750?–1814?)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29638.

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Carlyle, Edward Irving (1900). "Wilson, Anthony". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 62. London: Smith, Elder & Co. This source cites:
  • Manuscript note by Evans, the printseller, in his copy of Bromley's Catalogue, afterwards in the possession of Sir George Scharf;
  • preface to Bromley's Catalogue;
  • Evans's Catalogue of Engraved Portraits, vol. i. Nos. 1352, 11360;
  • Redgrave's Dict. of Artists, s.v. ‘Bromley.’