Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/467

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in James I.'s reign, and gained a great reputation by his art. Probably his earliest work in this country is at Wadhara College, Oxford, 1622. Among other paintings Dy him is the chapel at Wroxton, 1632; the seven windows at Lincoln College, Oxford, 1629-31, are generally attributed to him. Some writers, without questioning that these works are by him, doubt whether he ever came to this country.

VAN LINGE, Abraham, glass painter. Supposed to have been the son of the fore- going. He painted many fine windows in this country. At Christ Church, Oxford, 1640; Balliol College, 1637; Hatfield, Wroxton, Queen's College, 1635 ; Univer- sity College, Lincoln's Inn Chapel, 1641 ; Peterhouse, Cambridge.

VAN LOO, John Baptists, portrait painter. Was born at Aix in Provence, in 1684, and at a very early age obtained con- siderable reputation in art, and painted altar-pieces for the churches in Toulon, Aix, etc. This led to his going to Turin, where he painted portraits of the grand ducal family. The Prince of Cangnan sent him to Rome, where he studied under B. Luti, and restored Giulio Romano's

Eicture of the ' Loves of the Gods.' Later e went to France, where he restored Primaticcio's pictures at Fontainebleau. In 1737 he came to England and painted a portrait of McSwiney the actor, which obtained him great employment. Walpole states that he soon bore away the chief business of Londonfrom every other painter. His likenesses were strong but not flatter- ing, and his heads forcible in colouring. His work was laborious, though he only demanded five sittings from each person. His portraits are largely engraved. He etched one plate representing ' Diana dis- covering Endymion in a Forest.' He re- turned to Paris in 1742, but soon retired to Aix, where he died in 1746, aged 62.

VAN N S T, John, sculptor. Was born in Piccadilly, where his father made statues in lead for the decoration of gar- dens. About 1750 he went to Dublin, where he settled and was much esteemed. The equestrian statue of William III. on College Green, is by him ; also, the eques- trian statue oi George II., on St. Stephen's Green, and many statues and ornamental works about the castle. He was appointed statuary to the King. About 1780 he re- turned to London, but went back to Cork on the invitation of the Corporation, and erected in that city a statue of the Mayor. He died in Dublin, in 1780. • VANSOMER, Paul, portrait painter. Was born at Antwerp in 1576. Practised for some while in Amsterdam. Then came to England. The time of his arrival is not known, but it was certainly before 1606. He settled here, painted James I. with his 446

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Queen, and many of the nobility and other persons of distinction. His portraits pos- sess many fine qualities, grand, dignihed, and characteristic, particularly in his male portraits, powerful m light and shade, and quiet in tone and colour, excellent in his landscape back-grounds and in general pictorial treatment. There are many noble examples of his art in the royal and other collections. He died in London, aged about 45, and was buried at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, January 5, 1621.

VANSOMER, Paul, engraver. Born at Amsterdam, 1649, he resided some time in Paris, and then came to London, where he settled and was one of the first artists who practised in mezzo-tint. He also etched and engraved, but without attaining excellence in either manner. He executed a plate of the Duke of Bavaria and his secre- tary in 1670, before his arrival in England, ana many other portraits. There are also many historical engravings by him. ' Tobit Burying the Dead.' ' Moses Found in the Bulrushes,' * The Baptism of Christ,' * The Adoration of the Shepherds/ from a design by himself ; ' A Drawing Book,' and some other works. His works are dated as late as 1690. He died in London, 1694.

V ANSON (or 'Vanzoon'), Francis John, still-life and flower painter. Was born at Antwerp about 1650, and studied art under his father, who was a flower painter. He came early to England, settled here, and marrying the niece (some accounts say the daughter) of Robert Streater, he succeeded to much of his practice. He painted still-life, fruit, flowers, china, rich silks, and tissues, imitating them from the objects with great fidelity and truth, rich in colour, and picturesquely composed. Into some of his works he introduced rare botanical plants studied at the Physic Garden in Chelsea. He lived chiefly in Long Acre, and died in St. Alban's Street in 1700.

VAN VIANEN, Christian, modeller and chaser. He practised in the reign of Charles I., and was distinguished by the beauty of his designs and workmanship in silver plate. His works were treasured in the Royal Collection and in the households of several of our nobility. That he prac- tised in this country is vouched for by his initials, ' C. V., Lond.'

VANVOERST, Robert, engraver. Was born at Arnheim, Holland, about the end of the 16th century, and came to England early in life. He engraved the portraits of many distinguished Englishmen, chiefly after Vandyck, Mirevelt, and Honthorst,

Earticularly the fine portrait of Charles and is Queen, by Vandyck ; Elizabeth of Bohemia, after Honthorst ; and his own portrait, by Vandyck. He used the graver almost exclusively, and his plates are neatly