FINDEY, WILLIAM, line engraver, was born in 1787. He was apprenticed to Mr. Mitan, an engraver of shop-bills, coats of arms, &c., but by devoting his leisure to the study of the works of James Heath, and others, he acquired, by his own industry and intelligence, so much facility in the use of the burin, and displayed so cultivated a taste, that after be began to work on his own account he soon found ample employment in engraving book plates. Among his first successes iu this line, his engravings of Smirke's illustrations of 'Don Quixote' have been singled out for special commendation.
Being very industrious, and always remarkable for a certain neat nesa of line and smoothness of finish, he grew in course of time to be one of the most popular engravers of the day ; and he was selected to engrave 'the royal portrait' by Lawrence, of George IV. seated on the sofa. It was a plate of large size, and for engraving it Mr. Finden received the sum, unparalleled for a portrait, of 2000 guineas. Finden bestowed upon it the utmost care, and it was so extremely popular that proofs and prints are said to have been advertised for at a large advance of price. But both the picture and the engraving were iu au essentially false style of art, and, the fashion having passed away, they have sunk in general estimation even below their proper level. Among Mr. Findersa other more celebrated large engravings, may be mentioned the Village Festival; from the well known picture by Wilkie, now in the National Gallery, which, with something of effeminacy in the handling, la much his finest engraving; and the 'Highlander's Return,' also after Wilkie.
Still his greatest success had been in small plates, especially in book-plates, and the great request in which be was with publishers, led him to call in the assistance of inferior hands for the completion of his many engagements. To such an extent did ho carry this, that
he had at length, in conjunction with a younger brother, Mr. Edward Finder', also a skilful engraver, established is complete manufactory for line engravings on steel and copper. The effect was, of course, mis chievous to art; injurious to his own reputation, as necessarily tending to destroy individuality of style; and eventually it was ruinous to his fortune, by inducing him to undertake—partly no doubt to keep his establishment in full employment, and partly to secure to himself a share of the profits which he faucied belonged of right to the engraver rather than to the publisher—the publication of various extensive eerier of engravings. Of these, the first and most successful was the popular Byron Gallery.' Other galleries and eats of illustrations followed with leas success; and ultimately by far the best of the whole the Gallery of British Art '—a geueraily well-selected, well-engraved, aid characteristic series of engravings from our best painters—on a larger and more costly scale than any of his previous speculations, was undertaken at an unfortunate time, and, being persevered in, iu hopes of eventually retrieving the first losses, swept away the fruits of all his previous labour.
After this, Mr. Finden 's only important work was a large eugraving, executed for the Art Union, of Ililton'e ' Crucifixion' ; but it was the work of • man broken in spirit, and is a very unsatisfactory production. lie oornplete I it shortly before his death, which occurred on tho 20th of September, 1852.