Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/331

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Was born at Melmerby, in Cumberland. Was apprenticed to Bewick, and approaches nearer to him in style than any of his other pupils. He was clever and ambitious. He engraved the illustrations for Flower's ' Heraldic Visitation of the County of Dur- ham/ Sharp's ' History of the Rebellion ;' also, among others, for a History of Eng- land, Watts's Hymns, * Robinson Crusoe.' He died October 18, 1848, aged 59.

NICHOLSON, Peter, architect. Was the son of a stonemason, and was born at Preston Kirk, East Lothian, July 20. 1765. He was taken from the parish school at 12 years of age to assist his father, but was afterwards apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, and then worked as a journeyman in Edin- burgh and London. He commenced teach- ing in an evening school in Soho, and, abandoning journey-work, published in 1792. 'The Carpenter's New Guide.' for which he himself engraved the plates. Arising out of his teaching, he next pub- lished, 'The Student's Instructor,' ^The Joiner's Assistant,' and ' The Principles of Architecture,' a serial publication com- menced in 1794, and completed 1809. He returned to Scotland in 1800, and settled in Glasgow, where he gained employment as an architect. His chief works are a wooden bridge over the Clyde, and some modern residences, which gave a new cha- racter to the city buildings. He after- wards practised for a time at Carlisle, and was appointed architect to the county, then, after two years, returned again to London, and resumed his literary labour. He published at this time his 'Architectural Dictionary.' 'Mechanical Exercises,' 'The Builder,' ' The Workman's New Director,' with some other works of a scientific cha- racter, and in 1827 commenced the publi- cation of his 'School of Architecture and Engineering,' of which only five out of the twelve numbers proposed were issued. This work failed, and disappointed by the failure and the loss which it entailed, he removed in 1829 to Morpeth, and in 1832 to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he was chiefly occupied in teaching ; but with all his labours he was poor, and in old age, and struggling with difficulties, a subscrip- tion was raised for him in the town, and m 1835 a small pension was granted to him from the privy purse. In 1841 he removed to Carlisle, ana died there June 18, 1844. His son, Michael Angelo Nicholson, who died in 1842, was the author of the ' Carpenter and Joiner's Companion.'

NICHOLSON, Otho, architect. Prac- tised in the reign of James I. The old conduit at Carfax, Oxford, a singular structure, was by him, and bore his initials. It was removed in 1787 to Nuneham Park, and is engraved, forming the plate to the Qxford Almanack, 1833. 310

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NICHOLSON, Thomas Henry, wood- engraver and modeller. He was at the commencement of his career chiefly em- ployed on book illustrations, and was known dv nis very clever drawings of the horse. These gained him the notice of Count d'Orsay, in whose studio at Gore House he for some years found employment. He assisted in modelling the small equestrian statuettes, for which the Count gained some reputation. On the breaking up of the establishment at Gore House in 1848, he returned to his wood engraving ; but of a shy and retired disposition, he did not enjoy the credit which his works deserved. He died at Portland, Hants, 1870.

NICHOLSON. James, glass stainer. Lived in Southwark in the 16th century, and was much employed. He was one of the four contractors for the 18 painted windows in the upper storey of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, in the reign of Henry VIII.

NICHOLSON, William, R.S.A., por- trait painter. He was born at Newcastle- on-Tyne, 1784, and sent from thence, in 1813, two portraits, his first contribution to the Academy Exhibition, followed in 1816 by a portrait of W. Bewick. In 1820 he was settled in Edinburgh, where he practised as a portrait painter, and sent an occasional portrait to the Academv Exhi- bition in London. His best works were his water-colour portraits, which were es- teemed for their faithful resemblance and true art merits. He was one of the pro- moters and founders of the Royal Scottish Academy, to which his most mature works were contributed, was active in securing the assistance of the most influential of his brother artists, and became himself the secretary, thus successfully opposing the lay directors of the Royal Institution, where the Scottish artists had previously exhibit- ed. He etched and published a series of portraits with short biographical notices, and engraved some of his own works with much painter-like feeling. He died at Edinburgh, after a short illness, August 16. 1844, in his 60th year.

NICHOLSON, William Adams, archi- tect. Was born in Southwark, and was pupil to J. B. Papworth. In 1827 he settled at Lincoln, and was much employed. He built several mansions and churches in the neighbourhood, and enjoyed some local reputation. Died at Boston, April 8, 1853, aged 49.

NIXON, Johw, amateur. Towards the middle of the 18th century he was noted for his humorous sketches and caricatures. He died in 1818.

NIXON, Samuel, sculptor. Was em- ployed on works of a decorative class, and m portrait sculpture. He was an exhi- bitor at the Royal Academy from 1824 to