The years of our boyhood having been spent in Newcastle-on-Tyne, we have constantly been identified as being natives of the Tyneside, and so became much associated with several artists of ability who hailed from that part of the kingdom. Among the foremost of those we would mention William Harvey, the justly celebrated artist and book illustrator, who was himself a favourite pupil of Thomas Bewick, and during his apprenticeship designed and engraved several of the smaller tailpieces to the "Fables," "Natural History," and other works published by his famous master.
William Harvey was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, July 13th, 1796, and died at Richmond, Surrey, January 18th, 1866. He was apprenticed to Thomas Bewick, 1810, and the high esteem in which he was held by his master is shown in the letter here quoted.
"DEAR WILLIAM,--I sent you last night, 'The History of British Birds,' which I beg your acceptance of as a New Year's gift and also as a token of my respect. Don't trouble yourself about thanking me for them; but, instead of doing so, let those books put you in mind of the duties you have to perform through life. Look at them (as long as they last) on every New Year's day, and at the same time resolve, with the help of the All-wise but unknowable God, to conduct yourself on every occasion as becomes a good man. Be a good son, a good brother, and (when the time comes) a good husband, a good father, and a good member of Society. Peace of mind will then follow you like a shadow; and when your mind grows rich in integrity, you will fear the frowns of no man, and only smile at the plots and conspiracies which it is probable will be laid against you by envy, hatred, and malice.
Two years later, 1817, when he had completed his apprenticeship, he went to London, where he studied drawing and painting under Benjamin Haydon, and anatomy with Sir Charles Bell, where he had, as fellow students, amongst others, Charles Lock Eastlake, the P.R.A., George Lance, the fruit painter, and Sir Edwin Landseer. He soon became a most distinguished draughtsman and illustrator of books, his fame rising rapidly. For many years he stood prominently in the front of all others. Amongst his earliest works were "Henderson's Book on Wines," for which he not only made the drawings but engraved them all himself. It is further interesting as being the first work that bore his name. His great ability both as draughtsman and engraver is shown in the reproduction of an elaborate work from Benjamin Haydon's picture of "Dentatus"--which even in these advanced days must be held as a remarkable example of wood engraving, being, strictly speaking, a marvellous imitation of a copperplate, done in the grand line manner. Haydon no doubt induced Harvey to undertake this work to satisfy his own vanity, for he was not a man "who cared for others."