Moses Griffiths

Moses Griffiths (6 April 1749 – 11 November 1819) was a Welsh draughtsman, engraver and water colourist.

Griffiths was born 6 April 1749 at Trygain House in the parish of Bryn Groer in Lleyn, Caernarvonshire. His parents were of humble station, and he received a very elementary education but, being clever with his pencil, he was taken into service by Thomas Pennant about 1769. Pennant helped him to study drawing and engraving, and Griffiths became his constant companion on his tours and excursions, making the drawings and engravings for Pennant's numerous works. Griffiths became proficient both as a draughtsman and as an engraver.

On leaving Pennant's service he settled at Wibnant, near Holyhead, where he obtained plenty of employment as an engraver, He was alive in 1809, when he wrote a letter defending himself from an attack to the Gentleman's Magazine.Francis Grose employed Griffiths to engrave some of the plates in his Antiquities.

Griffiths also painted water-colours of Welsh scenes, churches, country houses, and portraits, including two self-portraits.

An original water colour of Clynnog, by Griffiths (1782), from the National Library of Wales' extra-illustrated set of A tour in Wales.

Lobelia dortmanna drawn by Griffiths, engraved by Peter Mazell, from John Lightfoot's 1777 Flora Scotica

"Long Leg'd Plover" (black-winged stilt) in Flora Scotica, one of a few birds in the book. Drawn by Moses Griffiths; engraved by Peter Mazell

A miniature of Basinwerk Abbey from a unique set of eight extra-illustrated volumes of Thomas Pennant's A tour in Wales that is owned by the National Library of Wales.

Another image of Basinwerk Abbey from Pennant's A tour in Wales.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "". Dictionary of National Biography. 23. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 

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