John Rennie, 1796 (mezzotint on paper)

Mezzotint of bust of John Rennie, in a niche, mezzotinted by Samuel William Reynolds (1773-1835) after a sculpture by Francis Leggatt Chantrey (RA) (1781-1841). John Rennie (1761-1821) was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, docks and warehouses, and a pioneer in the use of structural cast-iron. He is probably best known for designing the London Bridge which was relocated to the USA in 1968. Samuel William Reynolds (1773-1835) was a mezzotint engraver, landscape painter and landscape gardener. Reynolds was a popular engraver in both Britain and France and there are over 400 examples of his work in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey RA (1781-1841) was an English sculptor. He became the leading portrait sculptor in Regency era Britain, producing busts and statues of many notable figures of the time.