English engraving — Hills, Robert

Robert Hills (1769 - 1844).

English painter and etcher. After taking drawing-lessons from John Alexander Gresse (1740-94), he enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools, London, in 1788. Village and rural scenes, and in particular studies of animals, occupied him throughout his working life; his favourite subjects were cattle, sheep, Cattle, pigs and above all deer, which he stalked for the purpose of sketching. As well as making plein-air drawings, Hills carried out careful anatomical studies of animal bones and joints. Between 1798 and 1815 he issued an extensive series of Etchings of Quadrupeds; the British Museum holds the artist's collection of his own etchings, which number over a thousand. He worked mostly in watercolour (at the Fitzwilliam )but also occasionally in oils.
These are from 1797-1816 from his etchings of quadrapeds released as folio and as books in 11 parts in 3 volumes Vol I: Cattle: 200 figures on 105 plates. Dogs: 55 figures on 25 plates. Pigs: 36 figures on 16 plates. Vol II: Sheep: 100 figures on 44 plates. Asses & Mules: 79 figures on 45 plates. Cattle in groups: 95 figures on 54 plates. Vol III: Fallow deer: 80 figures on 53 plates. Red deer: 68 figures on 45 plates. Roe deer: 13 figures on 9 plates. Goats: 8 figures on 4 plates. Horses: 49 figures on 33 plates.