English family of artists. James Heath (b London, 9 April 1757; d London, 15 Nov 1834) was an engraver in line and stipple. He studied under Joseph Collyer (1748-1827) and established his reputation engraving small plates for such publishers as G. & J. Robinson. He also engraved the delicate designs by his friend Thomas Stothard for Harrison's Novelist's Magazine (22 vols, 1780-86). His first major plate was the Riot on Broad Street (1790) after the painting (destr.) by Francis Wheatley, the first of ten done for John Boydell. In 1785 Heath began the Death of Major Peirson after John Singleton Copley (painting 1782-4; London, Tate; see COPLEY, JOHN SINGLETON, fig. 2). As a result of pressure of work for the book trade, illness and a quarrel with Boydell that lasted from 1792 to 1794, it took Heath over 11 years to complete it. Peirson was, however, well received and described as 'perhaps the finest historical engraving that ever was executed by a British artist' (Monthly Mirror, May 1796).
See the Abbreviations for further details.
