George Baxter

George Baxter was an English printer and artist who invented a way of printing pictures in colour. His prints, made with many layers of colour, brought bright, detailed images into ordinary homes in Victorian Britain.

Born in Lewes in Sussex, he trained as a wood engraver and set up his own business in 1827. He patented his process in 1835, using a base engraving with colour added from many woodblocks. His prints included scenes of Queen Victoria’s coronation and opening of Parliament, genre scenes and landscapes. He printed millions of prints, though his business was never very profitable.

Look at the fine detail and the rich, layered colour, which made his prints look like small paintings.