Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/429

 SPA

of Artists in 1761. and carved the figures in the pediment of Lord Spencer's house, St. James's Park— a very respectable work — and the decorations on the screen of the Admiralty. He drew the figure well, and with great anatomical truth. He died shortly before 1 767. His widow was relieved by the Artists' Society.

SPANGLER,, modeller. He was

brought from London, and was employed at the Derby Cliina works about 1798, where he rained a great reputation, and was considered the best modeller of the figure in biscuit and in finish, equal to any modeller of his time.

SPENCE, William, sculptor. Was born at Chester, and at an early age placed under a wood-carver and teacher of drawing at Liverpool. He was fortunate in making the acquaintance of John Gibson, R.A., the eminent sculptor, who assisted him to em- ployment, and he soon distinguished him- self as a draftsman and modeller. He was appointed professor of drawing in the Antique School of the Liverpool Academy, and regularly contributed to its exhibitions, and in 1843 and 1844 sent some Scripture subjects and busts to the Royal Academy. But he was admitted a partner into a Liver-

Eool house, and, withdrawing himself from is profession, was successful in business. He died at Liverpool, July 6, 1849, aged 56. SPENCE, Benjamin Edward, sculptor. Son of the foregoing. He was born at Liverpool in 1822. At the age of 16 he modelled a very successful bust of Mr. Roscoe, and later a group, which was awarded a prize at the Manchester exhi- bition. He then went to Rome, where he was assisted by John Gibson, R.A., and became the pupil of R. T. Wyatt, ana soon made up his mind to settle there in the practice of his profession. Some of his first works were not sent to this country, but from 1849 he occasionally sent a work from Rome to be exhibited at the Royal Aca- demy. In 185), * Ophelia ; ' in 1856, * Venus and Cupid ; ' in 1861, * Hippolytus ; ' and in 1867, ' The Parting of Hector and Andro- mache. In 1862 he was a contributor to the International Exhibition. He did not attain much eminence. His works had little originality in their conception, but were not without elegance and feeling. He died at Leghorn, October 21, 1866.

SPENCER, Gervase or Jar vis, minia- ture painter. Was a gentleman's servant. He bad a talent for art, and amused him- self by drawing. He made such a successful copy of a miniature of one of his master's family that he was encouraged and assisted by him to try art ; and he studied with so much perseverance as to become the fashion- able painter of his day. He practised towards the middle of the 18th century both on ivory and in enamel. He exhibited 408

SPI

with the Society of Artists in 1762 some portraits in enamel, and some fine minia- tures in that material bearing the initials

His portrait was painted by Reynolds, from which he etched a good plate, to which the name of George Spencer has been errone- ously added. Some slight portrait etchings by him in the print-room at the British Museum evince a refined power of drawing. He died October 30, 1763.
 * G. S.', seem properly attributable to him.

SPENCER, Lavinia, Countess, amateur. Daughter of the Earl of Lucan, married in 1781 the second Earl Spencer. Between 1780-90 she made some good original draw- ings, several of which were engraved. Gill- ray engraved in the dot manner ' The Orphan,' by her, and Bartolozsd her ' New Shoes.' She died June 8, 1831.

SPICERj, engraver. Practised in

mezzo-tint in the latter half of the 18th century. There are by him, after Reynolds, plates of Kitty Fisher, Lady Stafford, and some others.

SPICER, Henry, miniature painter. He was born at Reepham, Norfolk, and was the pupil of Gervase Spencer. He first appears as a contributor of miniatures to the exhibitions of the* Incorporated Society of Artists in 1766, and was their secretary in 1773, continuing to exhibit yearly with them up to 1783. At the Royal Academy he first exhibited in 1774, and in 1795 contributed the portrait of the Prince of Wales, who appointed him his portrait painter in enamel. In 1776 he went to Dublin and painted the portraits of many of the most eminent persons in Ire- land. For 20 years he continued an exhi- bitor at the Academy, practising both in enamel and on ivory, and attained much excellence in his art ; nis works were power- ful and the likeness strongly impressed. He died in Great Newport Street, June 8, 1804. aged 61.

SrILLER, John, sculptor. Was born in 1763, and was a pupil of Bacon, studying also in the schools of the Royal Academy. The statue of King Charles, which stood in the centre of the piazza of the Royal Ex- change, before the fire in 1838, was his work. He was an occasional exhibitor at the Aca- demy, commencing in 1778. He contributed wax models and portraits. In 1785 ' Venus Introducing Helen to Paris/ a group ; and in 1792, when he exhibited tor the last time, designs for two churches. The elder D'Israeli says of him, ' the energy of his labour and the strong excitement of his feelings had made fatal inroads upon his constitution, and he only lived to finish his statue of Charles.' He died 1794.

• SPILSBURY. F. B., amateur. Was surgeon to H.M. s ship ' Le Tigre/ and was in the campaign in Syria and Palestine. 1796, where he made many sketches of