William Henry Bartlett

1809-1854

British (London, England)

William Henry Bartlett was a British landscape artist famous for his views of all parts of the world which appeared in a series of travel volumes issued in the 19th century. His was apprenticed to an architect, and he studied drawings and created sketches of various ruined buildings. These initial sketches sparked his interest in capturing landscapes, leading him to start doing watercolor work in 1825, and later, steel engravings. He embarked on many travels to discover new landscapes and scenery, and Bartlett's prints grew hugely popular. His most prominent works were of real locations across the world, from scenery seen in places such as the Middle East, Scotland, Europe, and even the U.S. and Canada.

Beginning in 1837, British publisher George Virtue began to publish what would become the most successful of all Bartlett’s series, a work written by American author Nathaniel P. Willis and entitled American Scenery: or Land, Lake, and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature. The book and its prints were first issued in a series of parts running to November 1839, and then the entire work was issued in two volumes in January 1840.

Artist profile image: William Henry Bartlett, ca. 1842. Middle East Views, Published 1836.