Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/32



ANGEIR,, engraver. Was taught by John Tinney. Practised in London about the middle of the 18th century, being chiefly employed on small plates for book illustration. There are some landscapes of this class by him neatly executed, but weak in manner. Also 'Roman Ruins,' after Pannini, dated 1749; a Landscape, after Moucheron, 1755; 'Dead Game' after Huet, 1757. He never arrived at much excellence, and died at the age of 30.

ANGUS,, engraver. Was a pupil of William Walker, and his works highly esteemed. He practised in the line manner, excelled in landscape, and engraved after Paul Sandby and Daynes, as well as from his own designs. One of his principal works was 'The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry' 1787-1815. He also engraved, chiefly after Stothard, the plates for the small Atlas Pocket-book, and some portraits for the 'European Magazine.' One of his best works is a landscape after Elsheimer. He was improvident and died poor, after two years' painful illness, October 12, 1821, aged 69, leaving a widow without any provision.

ANSELL,, animal painter. Reputed for his drawing of the horse. He also drew domestic subjects with some elegance. Several of his works are engraved. 'The Death of a Race-horse' in six aqua-tint plates, published 1784; 'The Poor Soldier,' 1787; also, 'A Dressing-room à l'Anglaise' and 'à la Francaise' 1789. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1780 and 1781, but his name does not appear afterwards in the catalogues.

ANSLEY, Mrs., amateur. Was a daughter of Gandon, the architect, and married General Ansley, an officer of the Guards. She contributed many clever subject pictures to the British Institution and the Royal Academy. At the latter she first exhibited, in 1814, a classical subject, and continued to send works of this class, with an occasional portrait, up to 1825; and in 1833 exhibited, for the last time, a portrait of Prince Napoleon, for which the prince, then in London, had sat to her. She died at Naples in 1840. Her principal paintings are at Houghton Hall, Huntingdonshire, the family residence.

ANTONY,, medallist. He was master of the mint to James I. His relative, Thomas Antony, at the same time held the office of overseer of the stamps. Both were able artists.

ARCHER,, watercolour painter. Was the son of a prosperous tradesman at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and was born there August 2, 1808. He was sent to London as the pupil of John Scott, the animal engraver. Returning to Newcastle he etched, in conjunction with Collard, after Carmichael's designs. 'Views of Fountains' Abbey,' and some plates for Mackenzie's 'History of Durham.' After passing a short time in Edinburgh, he came again to London about 1830, and was employed by the Messrs. Finden. He engraved a plate after Callcott, R.A., and was then engaged to engrave for the 'Sportsman's Magazine; ' but his employment was uncertain, and he was induced to try water-colour painting. He was led by his taste to paint the old buildings in the Metropolis, and in this pursuit he acquired knowledge and repute as an antiquarian, and had a large commission for works of this class, which employed him to the end of his life. He drew occasionally on the wood for Mr. Charles Knight's publications, and made a number of topographical drawings for the Duke of Northumberland. He was an able artist, and a member of the Institute of Painters in Water-Colours, and exhibited there a number of drawings of St. Mary Overy and of Lambeth Palace. He died suddenly in London, May 25, 1864. He published 'Vestiges of Old London' drawn and etched by himself, 1851 — his subjects very pictorially treated, with numerous figures well introduced — and some other etchings. His collection of drawings is in the British Museum. He had some literary taste, and wrote for Douglas Jerrold's Magazine, 'Recreations of Mr. Zigzag the elder' and some antiquarian papers which he contributed to the 'Gentleman's Magazine.'

ARCHER,, architect. His father represented Warwick in the time of Charles II. He was a pupil of Sir John Vanbrugh, and was largely employed at the beginning of the 18th century. He built Heythorpe Hall, Oxfordshire, his first work, 1710; Harcourt House, Hanover Square; Cliefden House, long since burned down; St. Philip's Church, Birmingham; 1715-19; and St. John's Church, Westminster, 1721-28. This work, frequently ascribed to Vanbrugh, is conspicuous by its four belfries, and has been sharply assailed by the critics. He held the office of groom-porter during the reigns of Anne, George I., and George II. Walpole speaks of him as 'the groom-porter who built Hithrop' (Heythorpe). He died May 23, 1743, having accumulated a large property. His works were not without a certain