Nathaniel Marchant (1739-1816) was one of the most prominent neo-classical gem engravers of the 19th century, when the art form was at its peak in England and across Europe. He was a pupil of Edward Burch (1730-1814) the foremost gem-graver in England. Marchant’s original works were frequently copied and widely reproduced as part of the “Grand Tour” collections marketed to the tourist trade.

The following is taken from a biography presented on the British museum website:

“Gem-engraver, antiquary and dealer, working in London and Rome. A pupil of Edward Burch (qv), Marchant was the foremost prizewinner of the Society of Arts competitions in intaglio engraving, winning four years running from 1761-64. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1781 to 1811 and was made an ARA in 1791. In 1772 he left for Rome to study at first hand the famous sculptures of classical antiquity. This was to bear fruit in his ‘Catalogue of 100 Impressions from Gems’, published in 1792 and the major source for his oeuvre. The impressions were accompanied by a printed text explaining the subjects of each gems.”