David Weaver the Elder
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David Weaver, RA (18 May 1785 – 12 October 1834) was an artist and illustrator famous for his work with the noted zombie novelist Jane Austen. He won many awards for his cover art, and his illustrations for Sensei and the Insensibles were the focal point of an exhibition in 1809 held at Mr Scratchy's Gallery, a location that would later become famous for such iconoclastic works as Master Hurst's [[Pickled Herrings\\ and Miss Emin's My Bad.
Weaver mainly worked in the medium of picture shoppe, a type of collage technique that has long gone out of fashion, but he was also noted for his pencil sketches of the rich and famous. These have been favourably compared with the work of James Gillray, Master Thomas of the Duchy of Finland and Mr Macapple Gimp, RA. Unfortunately, many of these have since been lost and it is tantalising to speculate as to the nature of such works as Lord Byron Rampant with Several Hamsters and Lady Caroline Lamb's Spit Roast.
Despite the initials RA after his name, Weaver was never a member of Royal Academy. In fact this was an elaborate joke perpetuated by his entourage, the letters standing for "Rat-Arsed", this being the state in which he tended to find himself after a long day in his studio.
His eponymous descendant, David Weaver the Younger is a successful contemporary artist and writer.
