Thomas Abiel Prior
Thomas Abiel Prior (5 November 1809 – 1886) was a British engraver. Life. Prior was born in 1809. He made a reputation in 1846, with the print "Heidelberg Castle and Town", engraved from a drawing by J. M. W. Turner, and under Turner's supervision; it was published by subscription. A plate in mezzotint, "More frightened than hurt", after James Bateman (1814–1849), was an isolated experiment. He exhibited twice, at the Royal Academy. In later life Prior lived in Calais, to be near his son who had settled there, and taught drawing. He died there on 8 November  1886. Works. In his early career, Prior made plates of landscapes for publishers. After Turner, he went on to engrave: Other works for the Vernon Gallery were "Ruins in Italy", after Richard Wilson; "De Tabley Park" and "The Council of Horses", after James Ward, and "Woodcutting in Windsor Forest", after John Linnell. Prior also engraved "Crossing the Bridge", after Sir Edwin Landseer, and for "The Art Journal", pictures in the royal collection: Family. Prior married Emma Sharrow in 1837. They had a son, Thomas William.