John Whessell was an etcher, stipple engraver, mezzotinter and publisher who produced a large number of prints after Wilson. His soft-ground etchings reproduced 49 of Wilson’s drawings from the sketchbook D53 Studies and Designs by Richard Wilson Done at Rome in the Year 1752, Victoria & Albert Museum. In 1811 the etchings were published by the Oxford-based publisher, Robert Archer in more than one format, e.g. E60 Studies & Designs by Richard Wilson, done at Rome in the Year 1752, British Museum, London, which contains an introduction and list of subscribers.
