James Watt, 19th century (mezzotint on paper)

Mezzotint of bust of the Scottish inventor, engineer and chemist, James Watt carved by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey. Engraved by S.W. Reynolds, engraver to the King, and published 25 June 1825, by the engraver in Bayswater, London. Samuel William Reynolds (1773-1835), was a mezzotint engraver and painter. Reynolds studied art in London under Charles Howard Hodges and John Raphael Smith. His first engraved portrait, a study of George IV when still Prince of Wales, is dated 1794. Reynolds began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1797 and continued to show his work there until 1827. His work was also greatly admired by the French and was exhibited at the Paris Salons from 1810. Reynolds was appointed portrait engraver to George IV in 1820. Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841) was one of the most prolific sculptors of the Regency era in Britain, and was renowned for carving portrait busts of important figures in Britain, including of members of the royal family. Chantrey was elected to the Royal Academy in 1818 and knighted by William IV in 1835. James Watt (1736-1819), Scottish engineer and inventor, was born at Greenock on the Clyde, Scotland, and showed an interest in engineering and invention from an early age. He made great improvements to the steam engine, one of the most significant being the separate condenser, which saved fuel and time. In 1774 Watt went into partnership with Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) the Birmingham manufacturer and entrepreneur, building steam engines to power mills, factories and mines.