John Baptist Jackson: 18th-Century Master of the Color Woodcut

by Jacob Kainen

Lists 11 prints by Jackson.

Huber, M. Notices générales des graveurs et des peintres. Dresden, 1787, pp. 676, 698.

Huber, M., and Rost, C. C. Handbuch für Kunstliebhaber und Sammler. Zurich, 1808, vol. 9, pp. 129-131.

Huber, M., Rost, C. C., and Martini, C. G. Manuel des curieux et des amateurs d’art. Zurich, 1797-1808, vol. 9, pp. 121-123.

First catalog of Jackson’s work; lists 10 titles.

Jackson, John Baptist. An Essay on the Invention of Engraving and Printing in Chiaro Oscuro, as Practised by Albert Durer, Hugo di Carpi, &c., and the Application of It to the Making Paper Hangings of Taste, Duration, and Elegance. London, 1754.

Written by Jackson to promote his wallpapers, it repeats some of his assertions in the Enquiry but gives little detail concerning his career. It is important as an illustrated book and as an early document in the history of wallpaper. The prints have suffered from the use of an inferior oil vehicle.

Kainen, Jacob. “John Baptist Jackson and his Chiaroscuros.” Printing and Graphic Arts, vol. 4, no. 4, 1956, pp. 85-92.

An excerpt from the present work, then in progress, in a different version.

Kreplin, B. C. “John Baptist Jackson,” in Thieme, U., and Becker, F., Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler. Leipzig, 1907-1950, vol. 18, pp. 224-225.