Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/40

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he followed the example of a younger brother and entered the army. He served several years in the 13th Foot, and was at the battle of Culloden and several actions in Germany ; afterwards in the 51st Foot, and fought at Minden, and lastly in the 17th Light Dragoons. He then left the army and was made a commissioner of stamps, from which office he retired with a pension after 25 years' service. It is un- certain at what period, though no doubt early in life, he took up art (which his office left him leisure to practise). He said the happiest hours of his life were spent in its pursuit. He, however, exhi- bited mezzo-tints and etchings at the Spring Gardens Exhibition in 1774, and in 1776 Rembrandt's one hundred guelders print, before and after 'restoration.' He etched in various manners, blending mezzo- tint and etching with great success. He shone most in his imitations of Rembrandt, the original plate of whose hundred guelders etching, 'Christ healing the Sick,' he found in a worn-out condition, and restored. This with the ' Three Trees/ the twilight effect of which he closely copied, with some others of his works, have been placed side by side with the originals in the British Museum. He scraped a portrait of himself, after Hone, and from his own designs, ' The French Fleet overtaken by a Storm/ 1759 ; ' An Engagement of Ca- valry' 1762 ; and * The Sacrifice of Abra- ham/ 1765, with some portraits. He produced altogether 107 plates, a selection of 50 from which was published by his son in 1774, and the whole collection by Boydell in 1792. He died in December 1810. in his 88th year. .

BAI L Y, J., engraver. Practised towards the end of the 18th century. Some good landscapes and views in aqua-tint were executed by him, and some subjects after Morland.

'** BAILY, Edward Hodges, R.A., sculp- tor. Was born March 10, 1788, at Bristol, where his father was noted for his skill as a carver of figure-heads for ships. He was educated at the City Grammar School, and leaving school at the age of 14, was placed in a merchant's office, where he con- tinued two years. As a boy he had amused himself in carving the likenesses of his schoolfellows, and making the acquaintance of a modeller in wax, he soon acquired such facility in the art that he abandoned the counting-house and commenced por- traiture in that material. A love of Flax- man's works led him to make some studies* from the antique, and gained him an introduction to the great sculptor, who offered him assistance; and coming to London in 1807, he was admitted to Flax- man's studio, where be worked for nearly seven years; and was then employed as

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chief modeller by Messrs. Rundell, the silversmiths. In 1809 he entered the schools of the Royal Academy, and the same year gained a silver medal, followed in 1811 by the gold medal for his group, ' Hercules rescuing Alcestis.' In 1817 he was elected an associate of the Academy, and produced for the next year's exhibition his 'Eve at the Fountain/ which gave him a wide reputation, and was executed in marble for the Literary Institution in his native city. In 1821 he became a full member of the Academy, and was at this time commissioned to execute the bassi- rilievi for the Marble Arch, now removed to Cumberland Gate, Hyde Park, and some of the decorations in Buckingham Palace. He was a constant exhibitor at the Academy. His art did not derive its inspirations from any classic source. His tastes led him to works founded on the affections, and ' Mother and Child/ ' Group of Children/ ' Sleeping Girl/ were subjects several times repeated. His few sacred subjects, originating in the same feeling, were confined to Adam and Eve. But his chief works — those on which he was mainly employed and became most distin- guished — were monumental statues and portrait busts. Of such may be mentioned, m St. Paul's, Sir Astley Cooper, Sir P. Malcolm, Sir W. Ponsonby, and Earl St. Vincent ; his Charles James Fox and Lord Mansfield for St. Stephen's Hall, in the Houses of Parliament; Earl Grey, Lord Mansfield, Telford the engineer, and some others. After 1858 his contributions to the Academy Exhibition fell off, and in 1863 he accepted the position of ' nonorary retired academician/ and did not again exhibit. He died at Holloway, May 22, 1867, in the 80th year of his age, and was buried in Higheate Cemetery. His talent placed him in the front rank of his profes- sion, and as he was for many years fully employed, should have made him wealthy ; but he was extravagant and careless, and in the latter part of his life was always in difficulties.

BAKER, Henry Aaron, R.H.A., architect. Was a pupil of Gandon. He practised in Dublin, and was elected teacher of architecture in the Dublin Society's School 1787, and filled that office till his death. He erected the Triumphal Arch at Deny, and gained the first pre- mium for his design for converting the Irish Parliament House into a bank, but was not employed. He was elected a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy on its foundation in 1823. He died in 1838. He had considerable architectural talent, but was not fortunate in opportunity for its development.

% B AKER, J., portrait painter. Practised about 1700. He assisted Sir Godfrey 2 19