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of mezzo-tint, and drew many local build- ings and objects. His drawings are done with the pen, slightly shaded in the fore- ground with Indian ink or bistre, minute and weak in manner, and chiefly date between 1673 and 1713, signed with his initials only. He etched some animals and insects which were published, and mezzo-tinted some portraits after Yandyck and Kneller. He tried an experimental porcelain manufactory, and some specimens of his work still exist. He resided some time in Dimsdale, Durham. Died at the Manor House, York, 1728.

PLACE, George, miniature painter. Was the son of a fashionable linen-draper in Dublin, and a student in the schools of the Irish Academy. He came to London and practised here with repute for several years, exhibiting at the Academy yearly from 1791 to 1797. Afterwards he went to Yorkshire, where he followed his pro- fession about the end of the century.

PLAYFAIR, William Henry, U.S.A., architect. Was born in London, in July 1780, the son of an architect known in his day. He settled in Edinburgh, and in 1829 became one of the foundation mem- bers of the Royal Scottish Academy. His works in Edinburgh are in the classic style, in which he excelled. He was the archi- tect of St. Stephen's Church, the Royal Institution, the National Gallery, the Free College, the Surgeons' Hall, and of Donald- son's Hospital, an edifice in the Tudor style, lie died in Edinburgh, after a long illness, March 19, 1857.

PLAY FORD,, miniature painter.

lie practised in London with some ability in the latter half of the 18th century. Died in Lamb's Conduit Street, October 24, 1780.

PLA YTER, C. G., enqraver. He prac- tised in the dot manner in the second half of the 18th century, and was employed on the Shakespeare Gallery. He engraved after Rigaua, * A Scene from the Comedy of Errors;' after Hamilton, R. A., 'Lady Godiva/ and two subjects after Samuel Shelley.

PLlMER, Andrew, miniature painter. He was born at Bridgwater, and first exhi- bited at the Royal Academy, in 1786, some miniatures in ivory and on enamel, several of them in character. His finish was ex- cellent, his portraits powerful, admirably drawn and expressed. He resided at Exeter, and continued to exhibit up to 1819. He died at Brighton, January 29, 1837, aged 74.

P L I M E R, Nathaniel, miniature painter. Brother to the above. Born 1751,' at Wellington, Shropshire. He ex- hibited miniatures at the Academy for the first time in 1787, and from that year was an occasional exhibitor. His works were 336

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carefully drawn and finished, but weak in execution, and not agreeable in colour. He died in 1822.

PLOTT, J 0H5, miniature painter. Born at Winchester in 1732. Commenced life as clerk to an attorney and accountant. Had a taste for painting, came to London in 1756, and was for awhile the pupil of R. Wilson, R.A., and was afterwards with Hone, R. A., whom he assisted in miniature, both enamel and water- colour. On- leaving him he practised as a miniature painter, and in 1777 was living in London, and ex- hibited at the Academy, to which he con- tinued an occasional contributor. Later he went to reside at Winchester, and was elected a member of the City Corporation. He painted a few portraits in oil. He had also acquired a Knowledge of natural history, and executed some drawings of natural objects which had great merit. He commenced a history of ' Land Snails,' and had made some of the drawings, which showed great truth and beauty. He died at Stoke, Winchester, October 27, 1803, aged 71.

JPOCOCK, Nicholas, marine painter. Born about 1741. He was the son of a Bristol merchant of good family, and when a young man commanded a merchant vessel sailing from Bristol. He had a great taste for drawing and illustrated his journal with sketches which he met with on his voyages. Then cultivating art, and entirely self- taught, he left the sea to adopt art as his profession. He drew portraits, landscapes, and sea pieces, devoting himself chiefly to marine subjects. In 1780 Sir Joshua Reynolds wrote him an encouraging letter criticising his first picture in oil, which had arrived at the Academy too late for exhi- bition. Continuing to reside at Bristol, he was a constant exhibitor of marine subjects from 1782 to 1789, and at that time removed to London, and continued to exhibit up to 1815. He early attained distinction, and painted the chief naval battles of the war. One of these is in the gallery at Greenwich Hospital, and two others in the Hampton Court Galleries. These latter are large pictures, careful and literal, but lifeless, and wanting the interest and spirit of a battle. He was one of the original mem- bers of the Water-Colour society, and from 1805 to 1813, when he resigned his mem- bership, a constant contributor of marines, with an occasional Welsh landscape, to the Society's exhibitions, and continued so up to 1817. He designed the illustrations for an edition of ' Falconer's Shipwreck.' He died at Maidenhead, March 19, 1821, aged 80.

POCOCK, Isaac, portrait and history painter. Was born at Bristol, March 2, 1782, son of the above. He showed great ability for drawing when a child, and was,