Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/173



FILLIAN,, engraver. He was a pupil of Faithorne, and practised towards the latter part of the 17th century, but died young, about 1680. Evelyn speaks of him as a hopeful young man. There are a few portraits by him—a head of his master, Faithorne; of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex; and of Paracelsus. He imitated the manner of Faithorne, and had he lived might have attained some excellence.

FINCH,, water-colour painter. Was born November 22, 1802, the son of a merchant in Cheapside. A weakly child, he passed his boyhood at Stone, a little village near Aylesbury. When of a proper age he was articled to John Varley for three years, but continued with him for five years. He then made a sketching tour in the Highlands. For a time he painted portraits and made some study of the figure. He also painted some landscapes in oil, but returning to his first art, he was in 1822 elected an associate, and in 1827 a member, of the Water-Colour Society. The profits of art were at that time small, and he regretted being so much drawn aside from his art by the necessities of teaching. He was frequently depressed by a want of confidence in his abilities, and was slow in his execution. His landscapes were chiefly compositions, palaces, gardens, and stately terraces, painted in the early pure manner, but laboured in their execution and following too much the style of Barret. His love of twilight and moonlight scenes, in which he excelled, was acquired by his rambles when a young man, frequently extended through the night, with some fellow-student, sketch-book in hand. He exhibited at the Water-Colour Society from 1820 till his death; but between 1817 and 1828 he was also an occasional exhibitor at the Royal Academy. He died August 27, 1862, after a lengthened illness. He possessed a fine voice, and was a good musician. He had also some poetical tastes, and printed a small collection of sonnets and 'An Artist's Dream.' His widow wrote an affectionate memoir of him, published in 1865.

{{dropinitial| } }}engravers. Two brothers, both pupils of James Mitan, who practised their art together, and were largely assisted in their work by their pupils. They first engaged in the illustrations for the 'Arctic Voyages' published by Murray. Next they projected and published the landscape illustrations of Byron, followed by 'The Landscape Bible,' 'Beauties of the Poets,' and some others. Realising a profit by these undertakings, the brothers commenced their most important work, 'The Gallery of British Art,' which, by its failure, involved them in difficulties they hardly ever surmounted, though the work was both well planned and ably executed. Their next attempt was 'The Beauties of Thomas Moore,' and this too was unhappily unsuccessful. Edward, the younger brother, died, after a long illness, February 9, 1857, aged 65. He worked chiefly in conjunction with the pupils and assistants, and did not complete any important plates with his own hand. William died in his 65th year, September 20, 1852. The best works from his own graver are, 'The Highlander's Return' and 'Naughty Boy' after Edwin Landseer, R.A., and 'The Village Festival,' after Wilkie, R.A.

FINLAYSON,, draftsman and mezzo-tint engraver. Was born about 1730, and practised his art in London. He was a member of the Free Society of Artists in 1763, and in 1764 and 1773 was awarded a premium by the Society of Arts. He engraved a considerable number of portraits after Hone, Cotes, Zoffany, and Reynolds, and died about 1776. He also engraved two or three subject pictures, one of them, 'Candaules showing his Wife as she is leaving the Bath,' after his own design.

FINNEY,, miniature painter. He was born in Cheshire, of an old county family, and practised his art, both on ivory and in enamel, with much success in London. He exhibited his miniatures with the Society of Artists, of which he was a member, 1761-66. He was appointed portrait painter to Queen Charlotte, and exhibited a portrait of Her Majesty in 1765. He quitted his profession on inheriting some family property, and retired to his native county, where he died in 1807, aged 86.

FISCHER,, miniature painter. Was born at Hanover, September 16, 1786, and was the youngest of ten sons. His father, a line engraver, dying the year after his birth left the family in very straitened circumstances. At 14 years of age he became the pupil of Heinrich Bamberg, court painter in Hanover to George III. The youth showed so much talent that he was employed by his master to paint portraits, theatrical scenery, and frescoes, and on leaving the

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