Background
Landseer was born in London, the eldest of the fourteen children of engraver John Landseer. Like his father, Thomas was deaf.
Landseer was born in London, the eldest of the fourteen children of engraver John Landseer. Like his father, Thomas was deaf.
He was the only sibling to marry, his wife"s name was Belinda. He began etching aged 14, copying his precocious brother"s drawings. Thomas continued to make etched copies of Edwin"s works in later life, including Dignity and Impudence (1841), Alexander and Diogenes (1852), The Monarch of the Glen (1852) and, his last work, The Font (1875).
His soft-ground etchings complimented his brother"s animal paintings, and sales of the popular prints (retailing for between 3 and 10 guineas) contributed to his brother"s fame and fortune.
Landseer produced satirical etchings of monkeys in human clothing for Monkeyana, or, Men in Miniature (1827), and dedicated his Characteristic Sketches of Animals (1832) to the Zoological Society. He also produced illustrations for Samuel Taylor Coleridge"s Devil"s Walk (1831).
He also exhibited paintings at the British Institution and the Royal Academy. He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1867 for his etchings.
He edited a biography of William Bewick published in 1871.
He died at 11 Grove End Road, Saint John's Wood, on 20 January 1880. He was buried at Highgate Cemetery.