Identity:

Robert Graves was an engraver.

Life:

In 1812 Graves was apprenticed to John Romney. In 1824 he exhibited at the first exhibition of the Society of British Artists in London. He was elected Associate Engraver of the Royal Academy in 1835 and from 1836 until his death he regularly showed his work at their exhibitions, e.g. An Illicit Whisky Still in the Highlands (1826-29; V&A, London) after Edwin Henry Landseer. He contributed eight plates to the Art Journal between 1850 and 1872.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers in 1881 and exhibited regularly with themthereafter.

He also worked for print publishers including his brother Henry Graves with whose company Whistler deposited several paintings including Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother (YMSM 101) in September 1878.

Bibliography:

Hunnisett, Basil, 'Robert Graves', The Grove Dictionary of Art Online, ed. L. Macy, http://www.groveart.com (accessed 21 March 2002).