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Jane Austen fans are more familiar with Adam Buck’s small watercolor portraits on pin up print cards than the artist’s name. This format was popular during the Regency era.
Sophia Western, Adam Buck
Sophia Western, an 1800 engraving after an Adam Buck drawing, depicts a Tom Jones heroine with a jumping rope. She wears a Regency gown, rather than a costume from 1749, when Fielding’s book was published.
Roberth Southey with Daughter and Son, Adam Buck
Born in 1759 in Ireland, Buck left his native land in 1795 to establish a studio in London, where his small portraits in pencil, oil, crayons, or watercolour were quite popular. His linear, lightly colored neoclassical drawings and paintings showed scenes of domesticity and motherhood in classic attitudes that resembled those on Greek vases. The artist is said to be largely self-taught.
Portrait of a mother and her daughter, Adam Buck
Two … Irish artists brothers of the name of Buck deserve attention. Their pencil groups, slightly coloured, were very popular ,and especially those in which the sitters were grouped in classic attitudes resembling those on Greek vases. The reason for the existence of these portraits was the love that Adam Buck especially had for Greek art. He issued a book on the paintings on Greek vases ,and he modelled many of his best miniatures, as well as his pencil groups, on the classic scenes so dear to him. His work, as a rule, can be distinguished by the exquisite drawing of the profile. His brother, Frederick, who commenced in his profession by painting portraits in crayon, also painted miniatures following on the lines of Adam Buck. Neither of the men were very good col ourists but both were accurate draughtsmen.” – How to Identify Portrait Miniatures, George Charles Williamson, Alyn Williams
Mother and Child, Adam Buck, Victoria and Albert Museum
Buck produced a book in 1812, “Paintings on Greek Vases”, that contained 100 plates designed and engraved by himself. He exhibited his work at the Royal Academy between 1795 and 1833.
Adam Buck, Self portrait with wife and children, 1813.
Buck’s distinctive linear designs were also used on China ware and in fashion plates. See the Adam Buck inspired bat-printed porcelain images on Candice Hern’s site.
Herculaneum Pottery with Children at Play Pattern in the style of Adam Buck
More on the topic:
- Paul Mellon’s legacy: a passion for British art : masterpieces from the Yale … By John Baskett
- Adam Buck and His Sideline Art, Duchess of Devonshire’s Gossip Guide
- V&A Prints: Adam Buck
Jane Austen's World 
Are there any sources for collections of pictures of his prints? I really enjoyed looking at his work. I received and read in one sitting my book on Thomas Reynolds. I find that I can’t get enough of anything Regency art. I’ll take any recommendations you have!
I’m unable to help you, Karen, as I get my information from a variety of print and web resources. In this instance, Adam Buck is included in descriptions of illustrators of the era but as far as I can tell no book about his life and art per se has been published.
There might be a monograph about his work somewhere, or a museum catalog. I would recommend that you Google his name and click on images. The full body of his work, however, is not easy to find in one place. Good luck! Vic
Some very sensuous pictures there,Vic. Lovely. Great article.
Tony
I was fascinated by this post about Adam Buck. I love the pictures and had to find out more about him.
He was born and brought up in Castle Street, Cork, (Ireland) a few streets away from where I lived as a child – almost two hundred years later.
He was, apparently, the son of a silversmith – eighteenth century Cork silver is beautiful and hugely collectible – one can almost see that minute attention to detail which may have come from a childhood spent watching silver being engraved.
I wonder whether he was part of a considerable Huguenot community at the time, most engaged in artistic pursuits.
Thanks, Vic. How much in your debt we all are!
Lovely artist. Thanks for bringing him to my attention.
Lovely pictures. Thank you.
Hello,
I collect miniature portraits and have a number by Fredrick Buck, Adam’s brother. I recently acquired a painting at auction which was attributed to Adam Buck. I know it is by Fredrick. I went to the auction house and told them of their mistake but they insist it is by Adam Buck as it is attributed on the reverse. I am now of the opinion that it is by Fredrick Buck, who is not as highly regarded as Adam and that it is in fact a portrait of his brother Adam, hence the attribution. Fredrick’s work is instantly recognizable and stylised. Should you be interested in seeing the portrait,I can email it to you.
Sincerely
Charles Hicks
I would love to see it and place it on the blog, with your permission, of course! Thank you.