"Thomas Kirk (1765–1797) was a noted English artist, book illustrator, and engraver of the late 18th century.
A pupil of Richard Cosway, Kirk exhibited the first of 25 works at the Royal Academy in 1785, and created many famous engravings based either upon his own work or works by, amongst others, Angelica Kauffman, Richard Westall, and Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Although he illustrated James Thomson's The Seasons in 1793, he was employed most consistently by Cooke for his editions of celebrated works of literature. Cooke's Pocket Edition of English Poets (1796-8) was especially popular, and Kirk's illustrations impressed many of his contemporaries. Edward Dayes said of him: 'He passed like a meteor through the region of art'." - (en.wikipedia.org 10.08.2021)
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