William Henry Prior
Illustration — Dover Harbour in 1855, by W.H. Prior, oil on canvas. • Illustration — The Swan with Two Necks by W.H. Prior, Old and New London, Illustrated, Vol. 1 by Walter Thornbury. • Illustration — Old Bethlem Hospital, Moorfields, about 1750. Coloured wood engraving by W. William Henry Prior (1812, in London – 23 February 1882, in London) was a British painter and engraver known for his depictions of London and its environs.
Also recorded as W. H. Prior · W. P. · W. H. P. · William H. Prior
William Henry Prior
William Henry Prior · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection · Public Domain Mark
- Born
- 1812
- Died
- 1882 · Brook Green.
- Occupation
- painter · engraver
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Illustration — Dover Harbour in 1855, by W.H. Prior, oil on canvas. • Illustration — The Swan with Two Necks by W.H. Prior, Old and New London, Illustrated, Vol. 1 by Walter Thornbury. • Illustration — Old Bethlem Hospital, Moorfields, about 1750. Coloured wood engraving by W. William Henry Prior (1812, in London – 23 February 1882, in London) was a British painter and engraver known for his depictions of London and its environs.
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wikidata · Q38084058 · wikipedia · W. H. Prior
In this article
Early life and family
Early life and family
He provided sketches for the Environs of London (1842), and worked for Charles Knight and Henry Vizetelly on the Illustrated Times.
William Prior was born in Bloomsbury, London, in 1812. He married Amelia and they had two sons and two daughters. At the time of the 1871 census he was described as an Artist and living in Hammersmith. He was still there in 1881, noted as living in Masbro Road west.
Career
Career
Prior was a follower of Thomas Bewick's pupil William Harvey. He trained at Henry Vizetelly's (1820–1894) wood-engraving establishment with Francis Danby (landscape), W. H. Thwaites (figures), R. Hind (figures), and Martin, son of John Martin the painter (figures and portraits). He provided sketches for the Environs of London which The Spectator in 1842 commended for their "vivid perception of those qualities that constitute their picturesqueness". Later, he worked for Charles Knight and Henry Vizetelly on the Illustrated Times (founded 1855).
Death
Death
Prior died at his home of 6 Nasbro Road (Masbro?), Brook Green, London, on 23 February 1882. His executor was his wife Amelia and he left an estate of £652.
Identity
Identity
William Henry Prior is recorded as painter and engraver.
Sadler's Wells Theatre, with the New River running beside. Wood engraving by W. H. Prior., by William Henry Prior
William Henry Prior · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection
Royal Naval Hospital Greenwich, viewed from afar with many ships in the foreground. Wood engraving by H. Vizetelly after W. H. Prior., by William Henry Prior
William Henry Prior · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1812
William Henry Prior born.
1882
William Henry Prior died at Brook Green.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Prints
4,138 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- William HarveyEngraver
- William Henry AnsellEngraver
- William Henry BartlettEngraver
- William Henry PowisEngraver
- William Henry SimmonsEngraver
- William Henry TomsEngraver
- William HoareEngraver
- William HogarthEngraver
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