Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/418

 SIM

SKE

subject picture, or a landscape. He died J in Edinburgh in 1862. i

SIMSON, William, R.S.A., portrait and subject painter. Brother of the above. Was born at Dundee in 1800, and studied at the Trustees' Academy, Edin-' burgh. He commenced with small coast, scenes, and for the first ten years of his career he painted pictures sketched on the sands of Leith and the shores of Fife, which found a ready sale. In 1829 he made a higher effort, and painted 'The Twelfth of August/ followed t>y ' Highland Deer Stalkers, and ' Sportsmen Regaling.' In 1830 he was chosen a member of the newly-founded Royal Scottish Academy, and then for three or four years tried por- trait painting, and was, by his savings, enabled to visit Italy for his improvement. Returning in 1838 be settled m London, and exhibited his 'Camaldolese Monk, and 'Cimabue and Giotto,' and the next year, at the British Institution, his * Dutch Family/ and at the Academy ' Columbus and his Child at the Convent of Santa Maria di Rabida,' which gained him much notice ; but his subsequent works did not maintain the expectation which these pic- tures had raised. He fell into ill-health, and died in Sloane Street, August 29, 1847. His works showed much vigour, powerful in colour and light and shade.

SIMSON, David, R.S.A., landscape painter. Was born at Dundee, and was the voungest of the three brothers who all distmguished themselves in art. He was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy, and died in Edinburgh, March 29, 1874.

SINGLETON, Joseph, miniature painter. First appears as an exhibitor at the Royal Academy in 1773, and continued to contribute up to 1784. He exhibited portraits, and also, in miniature, ' A Holy Family,' a ' Little Bacchus.'

SINGLETON, William, miniature painter. He practised in London, and was, from 1779 to 1791, an occasional ex- hibitor of miniature portraits at the Royal Academy.

SINGLETON, Henry, history painter. Was born in London, October 19, 1766, and his father dying while he was a child, he was assisted by his uncle, the above William Singleton, with whom he resided for many years at the commencement of his career. He showed early indications of genius, exhibited at the Spring Gardens' exhibitions as ' Master H. singleton, aged ten years,' ' a Soldier Returned tonis Family,' drawn with the pen, and gained admission to the schools of the Royal Academy. At the age of 18 he gained the first silver medal, and, in 1788, for his original paint- ing from Dryden's ' Ode,' the gold medal In 1793 he painted, on commission, a por- trait group of the Royal Academicians

. >

assembled in Council, an important work, now in the possession of the Academy. He occasionally painted portraits. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1784, and contributed constantly to nis death. He put his name down for election as associate for the first time in 1807, and, indignant at his rejection, did not again become a candidate. He was largely employed as, an illustrator of books, for whicn he was* well suited, by his fertile pencil and ready invention. Towards the end of his life he completed a series of small-sized pictures from Shakespeare. He lived in Charles Street, St. James', was in easy circum- stances, and of moderate, industrious habits. He died at the house of a friend, in Ken- sington Gore, September 15, 1839, and was buried in the vaults of St. Martin's Church. His works were mannered, but showed great talent and refinement. There are engravings after him by Gillbank. J. Daniel, Scott, A. Cardon, and many otners. Miss Sarah M. Singleton, apparently his sister, resided with him for some time, and was, from about 1790 to 1820, an exhibitor of miniature portraits at the Academy.

SISSON,, portrait painter. Born

in Ireland, where he practised both in oil and miniature. Mr. Burke mentions hav- ing sat to him for a miniature. He died some time before 1774.

SKELTON, William, engraver. De- scended from an old Cumberland family. He was born in London, June 14, 1763, and was for some time pupil to James Basire, sen., and afterwards to William Sharp. He also studied in the schools of the Royal Academy. He distinguished himself by his engraving in the line manner and early found employment. He was engaged on the specimens of ancient sculpture for the British Museum, and by the Dilettanti Society, for which he executed some of his best works. He also engraved in the dot manner for BoydelTs ' Shakespeare.' Later he engraved and published on his own account a series of royal portraits of the familv of George III., which was very popular and had a large sale. From this work and his other labours he realised a competence, and retired to Ebury Street, Pimlieo, where he died August 13, 1848. leaving an only daughter, who had Uvea with him for half a century. He was buried in Brompton cemetery.

SKELTON, Joseph, engraver. Younger brother of the above. He studied in Lon- don, engraved for 'Cantabrigia Depicta,' published 1809, and for « Oxoma Illustrata,' ' Pietas Oxoniensis,' and * The Antiquities of Oxfordshire.' He also engraved a series of 154 etchings of the collection of armour at Goodrich Court, 1823. He went to France for a time, and was employed in engraving the collection at the Versailles

397