Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/385

 ROB

finished portrait. From the old masters he engraved Murillo's * Flower Girl ' and Van- dyck's ' Emperor Theodosius Refused Ad- mission to the Church, 7 with, one of his latest works, Vandyck's fine portrait of the Countess of Bedford. He was one of the engravers who petitioned Parliament, in 1836, on the state of his art, and especially upon the position of engravers in the Royal Academy. In 1856 he was elected an asso- ciate engraver of that body, and in 1867 a full member. He had made money by his profession, and late in life he married a lady with some property, and soon after retired to Petworth, where, after a long state of declining health, he died, October 21, 1871. He practised in the line manner, and attained great excellence. He was one of a great school of engravers, of whom he left few his equals.

• ROBSON, Georoe Fennel, water-colour painter. Was born at Durham in 1790, the son of a wine merchant in that city. He had an early propensity for drawing, which school discipline could not check, and he is said to have haunted the artists who visited the locality, showing the greatest interest in the progress of their work. He got his first instruction from a Mr. Harle, a drawing-master — and the only one — in Durham. He came to London at the age of 16 with only 51. in his pocket, and in less than 12 months, by the sale of his drawings, was able to return this sum to his father. He was a most per- severing student. In 1838 he published a view of his native city, and the profits enabled him to visit the Highlands of Scotland, through which he wandered until he became familiar with their changing aspects, and had laid up a large stock of materials. On his return, he published ' Outlines of the Grampians.' He first ex- hibited at the Royal Academy in 1807, and continued a contributor till 1813, when, under the altered laws, he was an exhibitor at the Water-Colour Society, and was the following year elected a member. He

Sublished, in 1819, his * Scenery of the rampian Mountains/ comprising 41 large coloured plates. In 1820 he filled, for that year, the office of president. He was at all times a most zealous member of the society, wrapt up in its success ; a very large con- tributor to its exhibitions, sending in the 19 years which followed his election no less then 653 pictures. In 1826 Britton pub- lished from his drawings 'Picturesque Views of the English Cities.' He attained great reputation in his art. His mountain scenery was treated with much poetry, skill, and power. R. Hills, who lived for some time in the same house, was associated with him in many of his works, painting the animals in the foregrounds, the two artists working together with great skill. 364

ROE

He embarked in excellent health on board a steam-boat to visit his friends in the north, and, being taken seriously ill, was landed at Stockton-on-Tees. Medical aid was pro- cured ; his malady was not stayed ; he was sent home to his nouse in Golden Square, London, where he died, eight days after being put on shore, September 8, 1 833. His last words were, 'I'm poisoned ; ' but a. post mortem examination afforded no satisfac- tory solution.

ROCHARD, Francois, miniature painter. Was born in France," 1798. and studied his art for several years in Paris. He first tried some subject pictures, but shortly before 182J he came to London, following his brother, Simon James Roch- ard, who had practised miniature art here successfully since 1815, and whom he pro- bably for some time assisted. He had exhibited at the Academy, commencing in 1819 ; but from 1823 appears to have prac- tised on his own account. His art soon became fashionable, he had many sitters of distinction, and continued to practise up to about 1850, when he married, and retired upon his savings to Notting Hill, where he died in 1858 He practised exclusively in water-colours, and was careful in his draw- ing and finish. Some of his portraits have t c, ri been engraved, fe* * %*+* -fyrtfr -9+s* -> wi

ROCHE, Sampson Towoood, miniature painter. Practised in Bath in the early part of the 19th ceutury. He sent some miniatures from thence to the Academy exhibition in 1817, the only occasion on which he was an exhibitor. He painted a

food miniature, but his practice seems to ave been entirely local. • ROESTRAETEN, Peter, portrait and still-life painter. Was born at Haerlem, in 1627, and was the pupil of Frank Hals, whose daughter he married. He came to England in the reign of Charles II., was well received, and practised portraiture, painting many of the nobility ; but that art was almost monopolized by Sir Peter Lely, and he tried still-life, and painted many good subjects in that style, particularly wrought plate, in which he excelled. From an injury he received at the fire of London, he was lame during the rest of his days. He died in James Street, Covent Garden ; in 1698, and was buried in the neighbouring church.

ROETTIERS, John, called 'old Rot- teer/ medallist. Was the son of a gold- smith and banker in Paris, who was sup- posed to have supplied Charles II. with money during his exile, and was on the Restoration invited by the king to Eng- land. He came over accompanied by his family, and was employed m the Mint, superseding Simon, who had made the dies for the Commonwealth coinage. He was an excellent artist, skilled in metal dies as