Dr Basil Hunnisett
| Dr Basil Hunnisett | |
|---|---|
 File:Dr_Basil_Hunnisett.jpg | |
| Born | 1923 July 5 |
| 2013 October 152013 October 15 | |
| 🏫 Education | MA PhD FRSA FLA |
| 💼 Occupation | Librarian, lecturer and author |
| Notable work | Steel Engraved Book Illustrations in England.
Dictionary of British Steel Engravers. Engraved On Steel - History of Picture Production Using Steel Plates |
Basil Hunnisett MA PhD FRSA FLA (1923 – 2013) was an English librarian, academic, lecturer and author specialising in steel engraving, historical bibliography, history of libraries and fine art librarianship. His books on steel engraving were some of the first to cover the subject in detail and all three books together quickly became the standard on the subject. He was a regular contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, the Grove Dictionary of Art and several specialist arts magazines.
Early life and education
Hunnisett was educated at the Grammar School for Boys, Lewes, East Sussex and is mentioned in the last page of the school newspaper “The Barbican” showing him starting in 1934 [1]and leaving in 1939[2]
His first job was as assistant librarian, Lewes Public Library, 1939-1947 [3] This included four and a half years war service in the Royal Air Force, mostly in India from 1942 and demobbed April 1947 with the rank of corporal.[4]
He became a student and studied at the Brighton School of Librarianship, January - December 1948 [5]
Career
After qualifying college, Hunnisett embarked on a career in librarianship, first as reference librarian, Bath Municipal libraries March 1949 to October 1951[6] then central lending Librarian, Worthing Public Libraries, November 1951 to October 1956 during which time he conducted the Association of Assistant Librarians correspondence courses in classification 1952.[7]
A major promotion meant moving to Shrewsbury when he was appointed deputy borough librarian and curator, Shrewsbury Public Libraries, Museums and Art Gallery, October 1956 to August 1964.[8] One of the benefits of this move was that the post included an apartment in the grade one listed building situated on Castle Gates near Shrewsbury Castle that was previously home to Shrewsbury school attended by Charles Darwin.[9] Whilst there, he was a committee member of Shropshire Arts Society and also gained Part 1 of Museums Assoc. Diploma 1963.
To enable him to pursue and share his great interest in steel engraving, he became a lecturer, Department of Librarianship, Brighton Polytechnic, September 1964 to August 1988; in turn senior lecturer and principal lecturer.[10]
After retiring, Hunnisett was frequently invited as a guest lecturer at bibliography events such as the Ninth Annual Seminar of the British Book Trade Index at the University of Reading in 1991.[11]
Additional posts
Locally, he was the honorary training officer and chairman of Surrey and Sussex Libraries in Co-operation (SASLIC) 1977 to 1982 and a member of the National Committee on Library History and The Art Libraries Society ARLIS, 1970-80.[12]
Published works
Hunnisett's interest in book illustration, in particular steel engravings, gave rise to three authoritative books on the subject.
- Steel Engraved Book Illustration in England. Scolar Press 1980. 263 pp ISBN 0-85967-3586
This first comprehensive study of steel engravings in the 19th century covers their early history, production, the engravers and artists as well as the books. Illustrated with 66 plates. A detailed history of the introduction and refinement of the steel-engraving process from 1818-1823 and of its rapid rise in popularity as a reproductive medium, followed by chapters entitled “The Art of Steel Engraving” and “The Books” with useful biographies of artists, engravers, printers and publishers, and an account of the ascendancy of rival processes - lithography, wood-engraving, and photogravure.
- A Dictionary of British Steel Engravers. F. Lewis. 1980. (2nd edition revised and enlarged, published January 1989 by Scolar Press. ISBN 0-85967-740-0
An Illustrated Dictionary of British Steel Engravers contains more than 600 entries and an extensive plate section, providing examples of work referenced in the text and adding a clear chronological dimension to the subject. The book makes use of an array of surviving accounts and correspondence of engravers and publishers and adopts a comprehensive and systematic approach to identifying different types and variants of steel engravings over time. Equipped with a detailed introduction to the history of steel engravings, An Illustrated Dictionary of British Steel Engravers will be of great use to those interested in illustration, graphic art, Victorian literature, and the history of printing.
- Engraved on Steel - History of Picture Production Using Steel Plates Ashgate 1998. ISBN 10: 0859679713 / ISBN 13: 9780859679718
Reprinted 2020 Routledge Revivals series ISBN 9781138311411 Steel engraving was developed more fully in Britain than in Europe during the 19th century, with most of the innovations undertaken by the many engravers then working in London. This study explores areas such as bank note, map, stamp and book plate engraving, mezzotint and aquatint, the casing of books and most present day usage. The main focus of the book is on engraving and engravers, but Basil Hunnisett also describes the context of their work: the artists, the print industry, paper manufacture, and publishing. He describes the activities of print publishers, including the Art Unions and provides a review of steel engraving in Europe and America.
The working papers for these books and drafts for a fourth book were donated to the St Bride Print History Library after his death and the original prints of the books are in their collection.[13]
Reviews
Early reviews noted “The history of steel engraving, however, has hitherto been confined to a page or two in surveys of book illustration or Victorian art history, not easily accessible to interested collectors or librarians. Therefore Basil Hunnisett’s book, the first systematic treatment of the subject, is most welcome.”[14]
Michel Melot in his review in the Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France says “The author fills an important gap in the history of engraving and illustrated books, its index makes it an easy tool for book historians.”[15]
George Tubbs in his review in Art Libraries Society of North America suggests “The volume could equally well be added to a special collection on the history of books and printing, or to a general research collection, since a case could be made that the book elucidates social, as well as book and art history. The art librarian would do well to assure this book’s presence in one location or another “[16]
“Dr Hunnisett should receive due praise for this scholarly treatment of a neglected chapter in the history of British book illustration. This pioneer work is a must in all art book collections and larger general libraries”. Poul Steen Larsen, The Royal School of Librarianship, Denmark.[17]
Articles By Basil Hunnisett
- Charles Warren, Engraver, Journal of the Royal Society of Arts[18] Vol. 125, No. 5253 (AUGUST 1977), pp. 590-594 (5 pages)
- Fine Art Libraries in France… (In Bibliothek und Wissenschaft, Vol 17, 1983 149pp) London: Art Libraries Society, 1974.
- A serial of six articles in Antiquarian Book Monthly Review on aspects of steel engraving 1986-8 held by the British Library[19]
- April 1986 Alaric Watts and the Literary Souvenir ISSN 0306 7475
- Contributions to Library History, New Library World, Art Libraries Journal and Journal of the Royal Society of Arts
- There are fourteen articles written by Hunnisett in the New Dictionary of National Biography 1998-9 and additionally, he has revised four further articles. All are about engravers practicing in the 18th and 19th century.[20]
- Seven contributions to the Grove Dictionary of Art 1991.[21]
Legacy
Whilst lecturing, he discovered that there wasn't really a suitable book on steel engraving to use for teaching and reference so he set out to write one.
He visited and corresponded with many libraries and collections worldwide to see the reference prints and genealogy of the engravers at first hand, so every reference in the book he saw for himself. This was way before the internet and email.
His books were the first to address steel engraving in the early 19th century in any detail and quickly became recommended reference works for the subject.
In addition to the citations listed here under legacy, Google Scholar lists over 100 books and articles that cite Hunnisett’s books and articles.[22] This demonstrates that all three books together form the standard on the subject, the books contents are still relevant and regarded as a bench mark to modern research into the subject and their contents and information has not been superseded from an alternative source.
They are frequently cited in bibliographies and sources by curators in museums and art galleries to support exhibits.[23][24][25]
Academic institutions and art organisations suggest the books as recommended reading, providing background support for courses in literature, historical biography and bibliography.[26][27][28]
Honors, awards and distinctions
- Associate of Library Association in 1949[citation needed][29]
- Fellow of the Library Association, 1951[30]
- Master of Arts, London University (with mark of distinction) 1971[31]
- Doctor of Philosophy, London University, 1977[32]
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts 1975-85[33][34]
References
- ↑ "The Barbican". old-lewesians.org.uk. Old Lewesians.
- ↑ "The Barbican". old-lewesians.org.uk. Old Lewesians.
- ↑ "Lewes letter of engagement".
- ↑ "Dr Basil Hunnisett Obituary". Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) Quarterly Magazine. CILIP Update. ISSN 2046-0406: 46. February 2014.
- ↑ "Dr Basil Hunnisett Obituary". Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) (Quarterly Magazine. CILIP Update): 48. February 2014.
- ↑ "Library Association Year Book 1951" (PDF). Library Association.
- ↑ "Hunnisett Appointment" (PDF). The British Library Board archives. Johnston press.
- ↑ Library Association Year Book 1964 (PDF). The Library Association archives: The Library Association. p. 235. Search this book on
- ↑ "Schools history". Shrewsbury School. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ↑ "confirmation of Principal lecturer" (PDF). Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ↑ "Ninth Annual Seminar of the British Book Trade Index". The Library. Vol s6-13 (2): 194. 1991. doi:10.1093/library/s6-13.2.194.
- ↑ "Dr Basil Hunnisett Obituary". Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals CILIP Update. ISSN 2046-0406: 46. February 2014.
- ↑ "Library | St Bride Foundation". St Bride Library. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ↑ Huemer, Christina (1982). "Reviewed Work: Steel Engraved book Illustration in England". Journal of Library History. 17 (2): 218–220. JSTOR 25541276.
- ↑ Melot, Michel (1981). "Reviewed Work: Steel Engraved book Illustration in England". Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France (5): 308.
- ↑ Tubbs, George (1981). "Review: Steel Engraved book Illustration in England". Art Libraries Society of North America. 9 (2): 65. JSTOR 27946482.
- ↑ Larsen, Poul Steen. "Review of Steel Engraved book Illustration in England". Journal of librarianship. doi:10.1177/096100068101300109. Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ Hunnisett, Basil (1977). "Charles Warren, Engraver". Royal Society of Arts. 125 (5253): 590–594. JSTOR 41372556.
- ↑ "Antiquarian book monthly". British Library. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ↑ "List of contributions by Basil Hunnisett". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. OUP. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ↑ "Grove Dictionary of Art". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ↑ "Basil Hunnisett". Google Scholar. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ↑ Cited. "Engraving by Henry Jorden". Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ↑ Cited. "Engraving by John Henry Robinson". British Museum. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ↑ Referenced for a. "Turner print English Harbour". Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- ↑ Appears in. "Recommended Bibliography". Durham University UK. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ↑ Listed in. "Bibliography of illustrations and Print". Penn State DuBois College PA. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ↑ "Bibliography for Lecture 20, page 8 Literature in the 19th century" (PDF). Keio University, Japan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ↑ Library Association Year Book 1951. The Library Association. Search this book on
- ↑ List of members. Library Association Year Book. 1985. p. 112. ISBN 9780853655077. Search this book on
- ↑ "Master of Arts certificate" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ↑ "Dr. of Philosophy Certificate" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ↑ "Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Certificate" (PDF). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ↑ List of Elected Fellows. "Journal of Royal Society of the Arts" (PDF). Royal Society of the Arts. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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