Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/42

 BAtf

Herefordshire, and at 15 apprenticed in London to a woodcarver, serving his full time of seven years. At 23 he entered the St. Martin's Lane Academy to study from the life. In 1763 he obtained the Society of Arts' medal for a basso-rilievo. He gained a second medal in 1765, and for a life-size model of * Prometheus ' in 1769 a third medal. He had found some em- ployment under Kent, and at the same time entering the newly-established schools of the Royal Academy, he obtained the gold medal in 1770 for nis 'Rape of Pro- serpine,' a bas-relief ; and two years later the travelling studentship. He arrived in Rome in August 1772, and by the assist- ance of his family prolonged his stay beyond the three years of his studentship, and completed some fine works in marble, the chief of which were 'The Death of Germanicus,' a basso-rilievo ; ' Caractacus,' a 'Psyche,' and a ' Cupid,' which he brought to London to finish. He returned to England in 1779, having married a lady of some property, and exhibited a group in marble and some designs in plaster. Soon after, not finding his talents appreciated at home, and tempted by an oner from the Court of Russia, he visited St. Petersburg, taking with him his ' Cupid tormenting a Butterfly,' which was purchased by the Empress. His health suffered by the climate, and after executing some works, he returned in less than two years, and in 1781 took a house in Newman Street, and settling in the practice of his profession, he met with considerable encouragement, exhibiting yearly at the Academy. He was employed upon a monument of Bishop Newton, and finished his first great work, a colossal statue of 'Achilles bewailing the loss of Briseis,' which was afterwards pre- sented by his widow to the British Institu- tion, and till the closing of the gallery in 1868, stood in the vestibule. In 1784 he was elected an associate, and in the next year a full member of the Royal Academy. He presented on his election his fine wort, 'The Falling Giant.' 'Thetis and her Nymphs,' a small oval alto-rilievo, is also one of his most excellent productions. Of his works in St. Paul's are the monuments of Captains Westcott and Burgess; in Westminster Abbey, where there is a tablet to his memory, the monument of Sir Eyre Coote; and in Pall Mall, the Shakespeare Group in the exterior front of the British Institution. He died in New- man Street, where he had dwelt since 1781. February 2, 1805, and was buried in Padaington Churchyard. His death was hastened by the violent treatment of an ignorant empiric. He takes high rank among England's sculptors, among whom he was the first who attained excellence in the poetic treatment of purely classic

BAR

subjects, of which he left numerous sketches in clay, full of delicacy in feeling and refined finish. He was a reserved, amiable, religious man — always kind to young artists. In his latter days he found pleasure in instructing his only daughter. He left a handsome provision for his widow.

BANKS, Chables, sculptor. Brother of the foregoing. Was a student of the Royal Academy, and after receiving several premiums of the Society of Arts, gained the Academy gold medal in 1774 for his group of ' Pygmalion and his Statue.' In the following year he exhibited 'Adonis,' a model, ana aid not again contribute to the exhibition till 1783, when he sent ' A design for a monument;' in 1784, 'Lot and the Angels,' a model ; in 1787, ' Sketch of a Basso-rilievo in Wax ; ' and after a ie of four years, in 1792, ' Diana and

Endymion ' apparently in wax, which was his last exhibited work.

BANKS, Charles, miniature painter. Was a native of Sweden, originally spelt his name Bancks, and came to this country when young, in 1746. He practised his art here, and was an occasional exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1775 to 1792. His miniature of himself is engraved by M'Ardell.

BANNERMAN, Alexander, engraver. Born at Cambridge about 1730. He was employed by Alderman Boydell, and en- graved for him 'Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's Dream,' after Spagnoletto ; ' The Death of St. Joseph.' after Velasquez ; and ' Children Dancing, after Le Nam. He also engraved several of the portraits for Walpole's 'Anecdotes of Painters,' and other portraits, frequently grouping them grotesquely together. In 1766 he was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and in 1770 was residing at Cam- bridge.

BAPTIST, John Gaspars, portrait and drapery painter. Born at Antwerp. Came to England during the Civil War, and was employed by General Lambert. After the Restoration, Lely engaged him as drapery painter, and he was known as 'Lely's Baptist' He was afterwards employed in the same capacity by Eneller ana Riley. There is a portrait by him of Charles II. in the hall of St. Bartholo- mew's Hospital, and another in the hall of the Painters' Company. His drawing was correct. He excelled in designs fortapestry. He died in London, 1691.

BARBER, Charles, landscape painter. Was born in Birmingham, ana settled in Liverpool, where, and in the neighbourhood, he resided nearly 40 years. When the Liverpool Institute of Art was founded he was appointed the teacher of drawing, and subsequently became the president. He