John Simon (engraver)

John Simon (1675?–1751) was an Anglo-French engraver, known for his mezzotint portraits.

He was born in Normandy of a Huguenot family about 1675, and studied line engraving in Paris. Coming as a refugee to England early in the reign of Queen Anne, he took up mezzotint, which was then in vogue, with great success.

Simon worked until about 1742, and died on 22 September 1751.

Simon was a rival to John Smith, producing numerous portraits of royal and other distinguished personages. He worked from pictures by Godfrey Kneller, Michael Dahl, Thomas Gibson, Thomas Murray, Philip Mercier, Enoch Seeman, and others; he also engraved the Raphael Cartoons. He took biblical, historical, and decorative subjects from Louis Laguerre, Watteau, Barocci, and Rosalba.

Simon published some of his prints himself at addresses around Covent Garden. He also worked for Edward Cooper, John Overton, Thomas Bowles, and other printsellers.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

...
Wikipedia