PLACE, Francis (1647-1728) — London & York
Artist, etcher & engraver; pottery maker. Etched and engraved an untitled and undated plan of Greenwich Park, together with Ichnographia Speculæ Regiæ Grenovici exquisite facta, a plan of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, both believed to date from between 1677 and 1679. Known for a wide range of work, including topographical views, birds and animals, insects, e.g. ‘Johannes Godartius of insects done into English, and methodized, with the addition of notes. The figures etched upon copper, by Mr. F. Pl.’ 1682, etc. “Master of many arts, painting, mezzotint, draughtsmanship, and finally etching … In all he did it is the artist-like lightness with decision of handling, both in drawings, and especially in etching, which is the outstanding feature” (Grant).
Born in County Durham, the son of Rowland Place (1616-1680) and his wife, Catherine Wise (d. 1670). He studied law in London, but abandoned that after the Great Plague to work with Wenceslaus Hollar (see BME 2011), in the course of which he copied Dutch plates for John Ogilby (see BME 2011) in 1669. He travelled widely throughout the country after 1668, especially after the death of his father, who left him £500 and an annual income of £30. A trade-card in mezzotint “when that art was known to few others” for Henry Gyles of York of about 1680 is one of the earliest recorded trade-cards, as well as being a very early example of mezzotint, which Place had been using since the 1660s. He spent increasing amounts of time in York after 1680, marrying (1) Ann Wintringham, with whom he had a daughter, and (2) Ann Wilkinson (d.1752), a wealthy widow, 5 Sep 1693 at St. Olave Marygate, York. His surviving correspondence throws interesting light on the business practices of both his friend Hollar and the print-seller Peter Stent (see BME 2011). A number of his prints were published by Arthur Tooker and Pierce Tempest, whose portrait Place produced (see BME 2011). From the 1680s he experimented in the improvement of pottery and the manufacture of porcelain. His second marriage obviated the need for any further commercial work. He died at his home at King’s Manor, York, 21 Sep 1728, aged eighty-one, and was buried in St. Olave. A will survives in York archives. His manor house, with its rich collection of art and rarities of various kinds was left to his widow, who sold some of the paintings, the remainder passing in turn to their two daughters. “We can only lament, that his application was not equal to his genius” (Strutt).
BBTI. BM. Bryan. Clayton. Globe. Grant. Griffiths. Hake. Heal (LTC). Heal (TCE). LHD. ODNB. Strutt. Wornum.