Matthew Pilkington
Pilkington, Matthew, Rev., vicar of Donabate, was born early in the 18th century. In 1722 he took his degree of B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin. He was the author of an important work, which has gone through eleven editions, and is still highly esteemed — Dictionary of Painters, A. D. 1250 to 1767, first published in London in 1770. Bryan's well-known Dictionary of Painters and Engravers is said by Allibone to be an enlargement of the 1805 edition of this work; yet Bryan appears to make no reference to Pilkington in his list of authorities.
Sources
16. Authors, Dictionary of British and American: S. Austin Allibone. 3 vols. Philadelphia, 1859-'71.
277. Painters and Engravers, Dictionary of: Michael Bryan: Edited by George Stanley. London, 1873.