Kirby and his world

This site is dedicated to Joshua Kirby (1716-1774), his life, times, friends, and anything else I find interesting about mid-18th century England.

Kirby was from Suffolk, an artist and author, writing on perspective in art. He was the author of Brook Taylor's Method of Perspective Made Easy, which ran through three editions, and the lavishly produced Perspective of Architecture. He was tutor in perspective to the Prince of Wales (the future George III), and Clerk of Works at Kew and Richmond.

Kirby was a friend of Thomas Gainsborough and William Hogarth.

Topics

• Family and Friends
• Read a brief biography of Kirby.
• Here's a bit about his mother, Alice Brown, and her portrait by Thomas Gainsborough.
• Kirby's Books, Paintings, Drawings, and Engravings
• Kirby's Subscribers
• Gainsborough Portraits
• Kirby's Places
• Suffolk
• London
• Kew
• Kirby and Perspective
• Kirby Miscellanea
• Gleanings from the Newspapers
• Other Oddments

Keep up with Kirby: Read the blog!