

One of Ackermann's most important collaborators, William Henry Pyne (1769-1843) "became connected with Ackermann about 1803, and came by degrees to occupy himself more with writing than painting, providing the text or part of it for many of Ackermann's publications. It is not perhaps surprising that, being himself designer, painter, engraver and author, he should become enamoured of book production. His great effort in this direction was the large and costly work entitles 'The History of the Royal Residences ...' undoubtedly a very sumptuous book for which author, artist, engraver and publisher alike did their best" (Prideaux, pp. 142-43).