Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (1793–1864) was, according to his biographer J.F.C Phillips, 'the best-known topographical artist of his day'. His elder brother was watercolourist George Sidney Shepherd, with whom he collaborated in 1813 on street views for Ackermann’s ‘Repository of the Arts’.
In 1826 his real break came when Jones & Co. commissioned a series of views of London’s newest buildings. Working for Jones & Co. between 1826 and 1831 he produced some 450 plates and built his reputation on depictions of modern, fashionable cities, including Edinburgh, Bath and Bristol as well as London.
He also worked for Frederick Crace, who employed him to paint old London buildings prior to their demolition. Much of the work surviving is in the Crace collection at the British Museum.
His works are held in the collections of the V&A, British Museum, The Courtauld, London, Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Watercolour Society, amongst others.
