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1846, contributing some works of high aim — * The Reconciliation of Adam and Eve/ 1828; 'The Birth of Venus,' 1830. His later works were chiefly portrait sculpture. The sculptural decorations for the Gold- smith's Hall, especially the groups of the Four Seasons at the foot of the grand staircase, are by him ; and are gracefully and finely carved, as is also the statue of John Carpenter, at the City of London School; and his chief work the granite statue of William IV., erected by the City Corporation in Cannon Street. He died at Kenninffton, August 2, 1854, aged 51.

NIXON, James, A.R.A., miniature painter. Born about 1741. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and was one of the first students of the Royal Academy. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1772, and was elected associate in 1778. His works were chiefly miniatures, in which he attained much ex- cellence, sometimes portraits of actresses and others in character, with occasionally a portrait in oil, and a few historical sub- jects. He also designed some illustrations for books. He held the appointment of limner to the Prince Regent, and of minia- ture painter to the Duchess of York. Died at Tiverton, May 9, 1812, aged 71. Some of his works were engraved.

NIXON, John, engraver. Born 1706. His best works are small portraits executed in a very neat style, the faces finished in the dot manner ; among them the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cumberland, Lord Granville.

NOBLE, George, engraver. He was employed by Boydell, and enjoyed much reputation at the beginning of the 19th century. His chief works are for the Shake- speare Gallery, and are after Wheatley, Westall, Smirke and Tresham. He also engraved some of the illustrations after R. Cook, R.A., for Goldsmith's Miscellane- ous Works. His brother, S. Noble, was employed on some of the same works.

NOBLE, Matthew, sculptor. Was born at Harkness, near Scarborough, in 1818, and was a pupil of Francis. He first ex- hibited at the Royal Academy in 1845, when he contributed two busts, one that of the ' Archbishop of York.' His best known public works are, ' Her Majesty the Queen at St. Thomas's Hospital,' ' Lord Derby in Parliament Square.' and ' Sir John Franklin in Waterloo Place. He was a regular ex- hibitor at the Royal Academy Exhibitions. His talents were not of a rare order, but he had the art of judiciously availing himself of professional assistance. He died at Kensington June 23, 1876, aged 58.

NOBLE, William Bonneau, landscape painter. Was the son of a bookseller, and Dora September 13, 1780. He commenced life as a teacher of drawing, and exhibited

at the Academy, in 1809, three Welsh views which were of some promise : but disap- pointed by the rejection, in 181 >, of some works sent for exhibition on which he had spent much labour, though his landscapes were exhibited in 1811, and suffering at the same time from a disappointment m love, he fell into despondency and habits of reck- less irregularity, and in November 1825 made a desperate attempt on his life. He died at Somers'Town, September 14, 1831. He left behind him a long poem in manu- script, called 'The Artist'

N ODDER, R. P., flower and animal painter. He found his employment chiefly as a painter of natural history, and held the appointment of botanic painter to George III. From 1786 to 1820 he was an occa- sional exhibitor at the Royal Academy. His contributions comprised flowers, and portraits of horses and dogs.

NOLLEKENS, Joseph Fraiccts, called ' Old Nollekens,' portrait painter. Was the son of a painter who had resided some time in England, but was born at Antwerp, June 10, 1702. He came to London m May 1733, and studied under Peter Tille- mans. He painted landscape, figure and conversation subjects, particularly children, and copied after Watteau and Paulo Pannini. He was employed on some decora- tive works at Stowe oy Lord Cobham, and was also employed by Lord Tylney. He was a Roman Catholic, and is said to have been so much alarmed by the Rebellion in 1745, that he could not rally, and died in St. Anne's parish, Soho, January 21. 1748, leaving a widow with a large family, but not without some provision. He was buried at Paddington Church. A number of his paintings for Lord Tylney were long pre- served at Wanstead House, but were sold by auction, with the rest oi the furniture, in 1822. They were chiefly landscapes with figures, and realised good prices — one of them, a ' Converzatione,' fetching 1271. At Windsor there is a small and very clever little portrait-group by him of Frederick Prince of Wales and sisters, the character and expression very true and good, the group well composed, and gaily but agree- ably coloured.

i NOLLEKENS, Joseph, R. A., sculptor. Son of the foregoing. Was born in Dean Street, Soho, August 11, 1737. His mother, a French woman, soon after his father's death married a modeller named Williams, who was employed in the Chelsea Porcelain Works, and went with her husband to Flan- ders. Her son's education was neglected, but he early set to work to fit himself for an artist, and for a short time studied in Shipley's school. At thirteen he was em* ployed by Scheemakers, and it is said that the drudgery of his tasks, the little prospect before mm, and his natural disposition, led

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