Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/451

 THO

THO

out of the Revolution, returned to London. Choosing art for his profession, he became the pupil of Opie, R. A., and in 1790 entered the schools of the Royal Academy. In 1793 his father took him azain to the Continent for the completion of his studies, and he visited Parma, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples, occupied by the art of these cities till 1798, when, still accompanied by his father, he went to Venice, and after a few months' residence there, to Vienna and Dresden, and in 1799 journeyed homewards by Berlin and Hamburg. On his return, the artists were busy upon Boydell's Shake- speare Gallery, and he contributed ' Perdita,' and one or two subjects from the ' Tempest/ In 1800 he exhibited a classic subject at the Academy, followed by some domestic scenes and portraits, and was, in 1801, elected an associate of the Academy. In 1804 he exhibited ' Mercy Interceding for a Fallen Warrior/ and some portraits, and continued to exhibit portraits and subject pictures ; in 1815, ' Cupid Disarmed ; in 1820, * Christ Raising J aims' Daughter ; ' in 1822, * Miranda's First Sight of Ferdi- nand; ' and in 1825, ' Juliet,' his last, and probably his best, work. In the same year ne was appointed keeper of the Royal Aca- demy, but resigned the office at the end of two years from severe illness and suffering, and retired to Portsea, where, his healtii rallying, he was able to amuse himself in sketching the marine and landscape views of the neighbourhood. He died at Portsea, April 6, 1843, and was buried in Portsmouth churchyard.

THOMSON, The Rev. John, Hon., R.S. A., amateurlandscapepainter. Known as * Thomson of Duddingston,' was the son of the minister of Dailly, in Ayrshire, and was born there September 1, 1778. He was brought up to the Church, and succeeded his father in 1800, removing to Dudding- ston, near Edinburgh, on his nomination to the church of that parish in 1805. He was , an excellent scholar, a man of great taste, showed an early talent for art, and, assisted by Alexander Nasmyth, made great pro- gress. He painted mountain and lake scenery with great breadth and truth, and was distinguished by an amount of artistic power seldom attained by amateurs. He first exhibited in 1808, and continued an exhibitor to his death, but rarely except in Edinburgh. He was appointed an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy, having refused to join that and other art institutions on account of the clerical pro- fession to which he belonged- Died at Duddingston Manse, October 20, 1840, aged 62.

THOMSON, James, engraver. Was

born at Mitford, Northumberland, the son

of a clergyman of the Established Church.

Showing an early attachment to drawing,

430

he was apprenticed to an engraver in Lon- don, ana embarking at Shields for the Metropolis, he was nine weeks at sea, and supposed to have been lost. He disliked his master, and the style of his art, and after assisting liim at the close of his appren- ticeship for two years, set up for himself. His best known works are 'The Three Nieces of the Duke of Wellington,' after Sir Thomas Lawrence ; the eauestrian por- trait of ' The Queen, attended by Lord Melbourne,' after Sir F. Grant, P.R.A. ; ' The Bishop of London,' after G. Richmond, R.A. ; and 'Prince Albert,' after Sir William Ross, R.A. He engraved also many of the plates for Lodge's Portraits, the Townley Marbles, and other works. He died in Albany Street, Regent's Park, September 27, 1850, aged 61.

THOMSON, Paton, graver. Was born about 1750. He practised in London, and produced some good works, chiefly por- traits. He engraved a portrait of Edward Jeruingham, 1794; and 'John Anderson my Joe,' after David Allan, 1799.

THORNBURY, Walter J., art critic. Was brought up as an artist, and studied his profession at Leigh's School of Art, but took to literary pursuits, and became an author. He died June 11, 1876. • THORN HILL, Sir James, Knt, historical painter. He was born in 1676, at Melcombe Regis, of an old county family, whose property nis father had dissipated. Compelled to seek some profession, follow- ing his own tastes he came to London, and was placed by his uncle, the celebrated Dr. Sydenham, under Thomas Highmore. Little is known of his early art career, but he is reputed to have soon made great progress. He was patronised by Queen Anne, who commissioned him to paint the interior of the Dome of St. Paul's, and appointed him her Serjeant- Painter. Other work of the same character followed. He painted the Great Hall at Blenheim ; the saloon and hall of the mansion at Moor Park, of which he was the architect ; the Princesses' apart- ments at Hampton Court ; the hall and staircase at Easton Neston ; the Chapel at Wimpole ; and the Great Hall at Green- wich, on which he was engaged from 1708 to 1727. About 1715 he made a tour through Holland, Flanders, and France, and had then acquired the means of pur- chasing some good pictures. He made careful copies of the cartoons at Hampton Court, now in the possession of the Royal Academy, upon which he was occupied for three years. He painted the altar-piece at All Souls and at Queen's College, Oxford. In May 1720 he was knighted by George L, and was the first native painter who re- ceived that distinction. He had the singu- lar satisfaction to re-purchase his family estates, and was elected to represent Mel-