Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/280

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160,000/. The Queen, his gracious patron, possesses many of his works. The nation is fortunate in the number of his best paintings, which were bequeathed to it by the munificence of Mr. Sheepshanks, Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Jacob Bell, and are now open to the public in the galleries of the National Gallery and the South Kensing- ton Museum. A large collection of his works was exhibited at the Royal Aca- demy Winter Exhibition in 1874. *L/P/3-

LANE, John Bryant, history painter. He was born in Cornwall, and brought up to the medical profession, but turning to art he was noticed and assisted by Lord de Dunstanville. He exhibited some sacred and classic subjects at the Royal Academy —in 1808, an ^Altar-piece ; ' in 1810. ' Ar- temesia preparing to Brink the Ashes of her Husband;' m 1811, 'Christ mocked by Pilate's Soldiers ; ' in 1813, * Eutychus restored to Life by St. Paul.' He then went to Rome, and after a time it was known that he was engaged upon a large and important work. Year after year passed away. He was continually increas- ing the size of his canvas, and continuing his labours, refused all requests to see his work. Then, at the end of 14 years, he announced the completion of his picture, 'The Vision of Joseph.' The work was crowded with figures, full of errors, and when seen by his artist friends, pronounced an utter failure. It was also offensive to Roman Catholic prejudices, and the artist bad to leave Rome with nis work. He went to Dresden to study Coreggio, and sent his great picture to London, and in 1828 it was exhibited at Charing Cross in a part of the Royal Mews. He exhibited some portraits of his patrons at the Aca- demy in 1831-32 and 1833, and for the last time in 1834, when his name disappears. His picture was deposited at the Pantech- nicon in Belgravia, till the rent exceeded its value, and it was destroyed by dust.

LANE, Samuel, portrait painter. Was bora at King's Lynn, July 26, 1780, of a respectable Staffordshire family. From an accident when a child he became deaf, and nearly dumb also. This misfortune, added to a taste for art, determined his prof ession. He was placed for a time under Farrington, R.A., and afterwards under Sir Thomas Lawrence. He became known as a por- trait painter chiefly from the accuracy of his likenesses, and though wanting in the higher qualities of his art, he had some distinguished sitters. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1804, and for nearly 50 years was a constant and large contributor of his portrait works. Soon after 1853 he retired to Ipswich, and sent from thence, in 1856, his last contribution to the Aca- demy Exhibition. He died at Ipswich, July 29, 1859.

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LANE, Theodore, subject painter. Was born in 1800, at Isleworth, where his father, a drawing-master, had retired. He was apprenticed to an engraver, and studied assiduously, but his genius tempted him to original design. He exhibited at the Aca- demy, as early as 1816, the portrait of a dog ; and in 1819, 1820, and 1826, female

Eortraits. Then, in 1827, finding the true entof his genius, 'The Christmas Present, or Disappointment ;' and the following year, ' Disturbed by the Nightmare.' This latter picture, and ' The Enthusiast/ two humor- ous works, which are well known, are engraved, and he was rising into notice, when, falling through a skylight, he was killed on the spot, May 21. 1828. He left a widow and three children, for whose benefit his ' Enthusiast — a gouty old man fishing in a tub in his chamber— was pub- lished. There are also some caricatures drawn and etched by him.

LANE, William, portrait painter. He commenced art as a gem engraver, and from 1778 to 1784 exhibited at the Aca- demy classic heads on cornelian and other Erecious stones. In 1785 he exhibited a ead of Mrs. Siddons in crayons, and from that year occasionally sent a portrait, but from 1797 established himself as a popular portrait draftsman. His works were slight, and cleverly drawn in hard coloured chalks. He was a large contributor of portraits and portrait-groups up to 1815. He died at Hammersmith, January 4, 1819, in his 73rd year. Anna Louisa Lane, apparently his wife, also exhibited some portrait drawings in 1778-81 and 1782.

LANE, Richard James, A.E., engrav- er. He was the son of the Rev. Dr. Lane, prebendary of Hereford. His mother was the niece of Gainsborough, R.A. Born in 1800, he was at the age of 16 articled to Charles Heath, the line engraver, and made good progress in his art ; but on the com- pletion of his pupilage, the higher branches of engraving suffered great discouragement from the attempts to widen its diffusion by greater cheapness, and in 1824 he was tempted to tiy the new art of lithography, to which, after many struggles, he finally devoted himself, ana soon attained great excellence, standing foremost in delicacy of finish and perfection of style. Among his first works were a charming series of 'Sketches byGainsborough,, 1823 ; followed by ' Imitations of British Artists,' among which are. works that stand unrivalled in lithography. His imitations of ' Sketches by Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A.,' are no less distinguished by their extreme tender- ness and delicacy, and are quite deceptive in their imitative power. He executed for the Queen, who appointed him her litho- grapher, many prints of the members of the Royal family after Winterhalter, and

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