James TONKIN
James Tonkin was born at Sennen, Cornwall, the third son of Charles Tonkin and his wife Elizabeth, a flour dealer and grocer in Penzance. Together with John Pope VIBERT, the artist produced a large number of lithographs of West Penwith landscapes and townscapes, including a series depicting the replacement of the Logan Rock, one of which (1824) is in the Penlee House collection. He also produced a set of 'Views of Mounts Bay'. His other major talent was miniature portrait painting, for which he was called in by friends and neighbours.
He is also known to have been a musician and pianoforte tuner, and highly respected locally for his many talents.
One of his sisters was a talented singer and his brothers were also musicians.
media
Lithography, miniature portraitist and painter in watercolours; also known to have been a musician and pianoforte tuner.
works and access
Works include: Logan Rock (lithograph, 1824); Branwell family portraits including Maria Branwell (1799), later Mrs Bronte.
Access to works: Penlee House Collection, Penzance
The Bronte Society, Haworth, Yorkshire (Collection of Miniatures of the family)
misc further info
With thanks to Bill Curnow for further genealogical information researched from Florida!
references
Diane Donohue, West Penwith Resources (COPC)
Holmes An Artistic Tradition;
Tonkin family history (private collection)
Bibliotheca Cornubiensis; Collectanea; William Curnow (COPC)