Robert Hancock
English, 1730–1817
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Robert Hancock was an English engraver.
Hancock was born in Staffordshire, studied under Simon François Ravenet, and was at first engaged as an engraver at the Battersea Enamel Works under Stephen Theodore Janssen. In 1756 or 1757 he became draughtsman and engraver to the Worcester Porcelain Works, and engraved plates for the transfer-printed china for which the works became known. He was one of the proprietors of the works from 3 March 1772 till 31 October 1774, when he sold his share, after disputes with the other partners. He retained, however, till January 1804 his property in a house built by Richard Holdship on the works, which he had purchased from the mortgagees in 1769.
On leaving the Worcester works in 1774, Hancock is next supposed to have gone to the Staffordshire Potteries. It is said that on losing his savings in a bank failure he concentrated on engraving in mezzotint. In the latter part of his life he was living in Bristol. He died in October 1817, in his eighty-seventh year. Valentine Green and James Ross the line-engraver were his pupils.
