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LES LE STRANGE,, amateur. He was born at Hunstanton Hall, Norfolk, January 25, 1815, and was the representative of an old family in that county. He undertook to decorate with his own hand the nave of Ely Cathedral. As a labour of love he devoted himself for several years to this self-imposed task, and had painted on the vault some of the subjects of the 'History of Man,' but died suddenly in London, when in the prime of life, July 27, 1862. His work has been carried on in the same spirit by Mr. Gambier Parry.

LETHBRIDGE, W. S., miniature painter. He practised in London for many years, and was from 1801 to 1829 an exhibitor at the Royal Academy. Several popular actresses sat to him, some in character; and in 1817 he exhibited a miniature of Dr. Wolcot, which is now in the National Portrait Gallery.

LEVERTON, Thomas, architect. He had a considerable practice in the last quarter of the 18th century, residing in the Metropolis, and building many villa residences in the adjoining counties. Be- tween 1771 and 1803 he was a constant exhibitor of his designs at the Royal Academy. In 1783, when the improved construction of our prisons was under the consideration of the Government, he re- ceived a premium for his designs for peni- tentiary nouses. Grocers 7 Hall may be mentioned as one of his chief works.

LEWIN, William, amateur. He does not appear to have been professionally an artist, but in 1789 he published, drawn and engraved by himself, seven guarto volumes of the * Birds of Great Britain/ exceedingly well delineated ; followed, in 1795, by the ' Insects of Great Britain/ executed in the same manner.

• LEWIS, Charles, still-life painter. Was born at Gloucester in 1753, and was apprenticed to a Birmingham manufacturer, in whose employ he excelled in the decora- tion of japanned tea-boards. In 1776 he went to Dublin, where, on the failure of an engagement, he went upon the stage ; but not succeeding, again tried the arts. In 1781 he visited Holland, and from thence came to London, where he practised for a time, painting fruit and birds, which were well finished and grouped. He was then invited by a kind patron to Scotland, and died in Edinburgh, July 12, 1795.

LEWIS. George Robert, portrait painter. I>orn in London, March 27, 1782, ne entered the schools of the Royal Aca- demy, where he studied under Fuseli. In his early days he was an ardent and patient student of the figure, as well as of outdoor nature. In 1818 he accompanied the Rev. Dr. Frognall Dibdin on his ^Bibliographical and Picturesque Tour through France and Germany/ for which work he made all the 270

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illustrations, combining in them a very wide range of subject, which subsequently gained him the eulogium of all connoisseurs. He also executedsoine of the illustrations to Dr. Dibdin's ' Decameron/ and was the author of a series of 'Groups of the people of France and Germany. He was, commenc- ing in 1820, an exhibitor of portraits at the Academy, and had some distinguished sitters, and sent also, occasionally, a subject picture. Among the latter were some con- nected with his tour— in 1820, ' Pilgrimage to the Monastery' and a 'View in the Temple Gardens;' in 1825, 'Baby with Playthings ; ' in 1845, ' Austrian Pilgrims, Tyrol ; ' in 1850, ' Boulevard des Itahens ; and his last works in 1854, 1856, and 1859, landscapes. He also published his work on the 'Muscles of the Human Frame/ the plates engraved by himself, after drawings made from his own dissections ; ' Illustra- tions of Kilpeck Church, with an Essay on Ecclesiastical Design ; ' ' Shobden Church,' 'The Early Fonts of England/ 'British Forest Trees/ and some other works. He had resided the last six years of his life at his son's, at Hampstead, and died there, May 15, 1871, in his 90th year. His works are evidence of his varied powers and his great devotion to art.

LEWIS, Frederick Christian, en- graver and draftsman. Brother oi the above. Born in London, March 14, 1779, he was apprenticed to Stadler, a German engraver, settled in London, and studied in the schools of the Royal Academy. He was first employed to make the engravings for Mr. Young Ottley's 'Italian School of Design/ and during the five years he was so employed he lived at Enfield, and sketched early and late from nature. Soon after Sir Thomas Lawrence engaged him to engrave, in the stipple manner, some of his chalk portrait drawings, ana until the death of Sir Thomas in 1830, he was almost wholly employed on this work, for which he was especially fitted by the refinement and delicacy of his art. He had studied landscape, which he painted with great ability, and was a frequent exhibitor from 1815 to 1820 at the Water-Colour Society, and up to 1853 at the Royal Aca- demy. He was also a contributor to the British Institution. His first exhibited works were his studies made in the neigh- bourhood of Enfield; his more matured works, scenes from the valleys and streams of Devon ; while engaged on which he made the acquaintance, endmg in friendship, with. Mr. Calmady, of Langdon Hall ; and on his introduction, Sir Thomas Lawrence painted his favourite portraits of 'The Calmady Children.' In 1821 he published, sketched and engraved by himself, 'Picturesque Scenery of the River Dart;' in 1823, 'Scenery of the Tamar and Tavey;' in