Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/276

 LAI

LAM

ing fellow, known to everyone worth know- ing, a great humourist, singer, mimic, and wit, the founder of a school of caricaturists; but withal he diedin indigent circumstances, in March 1748. It is not known where he was buried.

LA1NG, John Joseph, wood-engraver. Born in Glasgow, and practised for some time there. Later he came to London, where he found employment. His chief works were architectural subjects for * The Builder.' He died at Glasgow in December 1862. aged 32.

LAING, David, architect. Was born 1774, the son of a London merchant, and became the pupil of Sir John Soane. In 1810 he was appointed surveyor of build- ings to the Custom House, and soon after was commissioned to prepare designs for a new custom-house, which was just com- menced west of the old building, when that edifice was destroyed by fire. The new building, erected after his designs, was completed between 1814^17, when a few years after the centre failed, either from a defect in the foundation or the construc- tion, and the repair and necessary altera- tion were transferred to Sir Robert Smirke. Some litigation followed, and Laing retired from practice. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1814 to 1822, chiefly de- signs for the custom-house, exterior and interior, and views of St. Dunstan-in-the- East. which he was at that time rebuilding. He died at Brompton, March 27, 1856, at the age of 82. He published, in 1800, a small work, * Hints for Dwellings; ' and in 1818, his 'Plans of Buildings, Public and Private, including the New Custom-house.'

LAMB, Edward Buokton, architect. He was very early an exhibitor of designs at the Academy, commencing in 1824, and about 1830 found active employment in his profession. He gained a reputation for the correct propriety of his Gothic designs, but does not appear to have been engaged in any works of magnitude. The design for the Smithfield Martyrs' Memorial Church in Olerkenwell was one of his last works. He died August 30, 1869, aged 63. ♦ LAMBERT, General John, amatewr. He was of a good family, was born in 1619, and was brought up to the Bar. On the breaking out of the Civil War he entered the army of the Parliament, and gained great distinction; was a personal friend of Cromwell, and the first president of Ids council. He had been instructed in art by Baptiste Gaspare, and when banished for life to Guernsey on the Restoration, he found a solace in flower-painting, in which he excelled. There is at Goodwood a small portrait of Cromwell at an ale-house door, which is traditionally said to be after an original by General Lambert; a portrait of him, se ipse pinxit, is mezzo-tinted by

J. Smith. After a residence of nearly 30 years in Guernsey, he died in the Roman Catholic faith in 1692. He left some fruit and flower pieces which he had painted.

LAMBERT, John, amateur. Son of the above. He painted portraits and left several, which are said to be known in some English collections. Lord Ribbes- dale exhibited two portraits by him at the Leeds Exhibition. He died at his estate in Yorkshire.

• LAMBERT, George, landscape and scene painter. He was born in llent in 1710, and was the pupil of Hassel and Wootton. In his art he was an imitator of Gaspar Poussin, and his landscapes have much grandeur, excelling those of his con- temporaries. He did not succeed in his figures, some of which are attributed to Hogarth, with whom he was a convivial friend. He was a mannerist, and his manner was scenic, some of his best works being painted for the stage. He was first employed as a scene painter at the Lincoln's Inn fields Theatre, and so early as 1736 was engaged as the principal scene painter at Covent Garden Theatre, an office he held many years, and assisted Manager Rich in carrying out great scenic improve- ments. He was the first president of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and was one of the jovial party at Old Slaughter's, a merry companion at all times, and the founder of the * Beefsteak Club,' which first held its meetings in the scene-room at Covent-Garden, called the * Thunder and Lightning' loft. His portrait was engraved in mezzo-tint by the younger Faber. He died November 30, 1765. In conjunction with Samuel Scott he painted some views of the Indian settlements for the East India Company's house in Lead- enhall Street, now pulled down. There is a good landscape by him at the Found- ling Hospital. vivares and Mason en- f raved after him; and two etchings by im are known, one an upright landscape and ruins, with three small figures, coarse in execution. Some of his best scenery was destroyed when Covent Garden Theatre was burnt down in 1808.

LAMBERT, James, landscape painter. He practised in the latter part of his life at Lewes. He gained a premium of 25 guineas at the Society of Arts in 1770, and was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy in 1774, and continued to exhibit landscape views till his death. He died near Lewes in 1779. His son, James Lambert, during the same period exhibited still-life, fruit, and flowers.

LAMBERT, Mark, engraver. Appren- ticed at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and became an assistant to Thomas Bewick. He was distinguished for the truth and carefulness of his drawings. In the latter part of his

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