Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/482

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His works attracted some attention in his day.

WATTS, John, engraver. He prac- tised in Lonaon about 1760-80, working in the mezzo-tint manner. 'Vandyck in the character of "Tearus/" 1778, is a powerful work by him.

WATTS, William, engraver. Was born early in the year 1752, in the neighbour- hood of Moorfields, where his father was a master silk-weaver. He got his education in art under Paul Sandby and Edward Hooker, and on the death of the latter, he continued the ' Copper-plate Magazine/ commenced by him. This also suggested to him a work of his own, * The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry/ which he began in 1779, and finished in 1786. Up to this time he resided at Kemp's Row, Chelsea, but now selling his furniture and his art collection, in which there were some rare drawings and prints, he travelled in Italy, reaching Naples in September, 1786. After about a year's absence he returned, and then Uvea at Sunbury. In 1789 he went to Carmarthen, the following year to the Hot-wells, Bristol, and in 1791 to Bath, where he spent two years, and brought out his 12 views of that city, which are fine specimens of line-engraving. At this time he became an enthusiast in the events of the French Revolution, and went to Paris. He had inherited property from his father, a large portion of which, with his own earnings, he invested in the French funds, and the whole was eventually confiscated, though a remnant was recovered at the Peace in 1815. On this loss he was com-

Eelled to return to the active practice of is profession, and published, in 1800, his

1801-1805 completed his last work. 60 views for Sir R. Ainsue's * Turkey and Palestine/ and then retired from his profession. He lived a short time at Mill Hill. Hendon, and in 1814, purchasing a small property at Cobham, m Surrey, he settled there, and died December 7, 1851, aged 99. He was a good French and Italian scholar, and a well read man. Though in his latter years deprived of sight, he enjoyed good health.
 * Select Views of London/ and between

WATTS, Jane, amateur. She was the daughter of Mr. Waldie, a Scotch clergy- man, and married Captain Watts, R.N. Possessing a talent for drawing, she painted landscapes in oil, and exhibited on one or two occasions at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. She had. also literary tastes, and published 'A Pano- ramic Sketch of the Field of Waterloo/

tures/ ' Rome in the Nineteenth Century. ' She died July 6, 1826, in her 34th year.
 * Sketches of Italy/ 'Continental Adven-

WATTS, Simon, wood-engraver. He practised in London about the middle of

the 18th century. There are two or three large woodcuts by him, dated 1736, and some small circular portraits of painters freely engraved. A portrait of Queen Elizabeth, 1773, and of Dudley Earl of Leicester, 1775, with some other works, are also attributed to him.

WEBB, Duncan, engraver. Attained great repute as an engraver of animals, especially of horses and dogs. He fell down in the street and expired suddenly in the prime of life in 1832, leaving a widow with a large family in distressed chcumstances.

WEBB, Westfikld, portrait painter. He exhibited, in 1762, the whole-length portrait of a celebrated female singer, and continued to exhibit for the following ten years not only portraits, but landscapes and flowers, but in none of his works was shown any art of an enduring character. He resided in St. Martin's Lane, then the resort of painters, and died soon after 1772.

WEBBE, John, architect. Was of a Somersetshire family and was born in London in 1611. He was the nephew of Inigo Jones, and married his only daughter. He was also his pupil and assistant. From the designs of nis master he built Ames- bury, Wilts, and from his own designs Wilton House, after the fire, 1648; Gun- nersbury House, 1663; Ramsbury Manor House, Wilts; Horse-heath, Cambridge- shire, 1669, a handsome and commodious structure; the laree houses in Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the north-west quadrangle of Greenwich Hos- pital. In 1656 he designed and painted the scenery for the siege of Rhodes. His works do not evince much originality. He died in 1672, at Butleigh, in Somerset- shire, his native place, aged 61. He pub- lished Inigo Jones's 4 Treatise on Stone- henge/ and a vindication of it against Dr. Charlton; also an essay to prove that the Chinese is an original language.

WEBBER, John, R.A., landscape painter. Was born in London in 1752, the son of a Swiss sculptor, whose name, Weber, he Anglicized. His father, who executed some monumental works in this country, sent him to Paris, where he studied five years, and then, returning to his family in London, in 1775 he became a student of the Royal Academy. By the influence of Dr. Solander he was appointed, in 1776, draftsman to Captain Cook's third and last voyage, and on his return, in 1780, he superintended the engraving of the drawings he had made for the Admiralty : and also etched, aqua-tinted, and coloured a series of views of the principal places he had visited. There he published on his own account, and they were very popular. In 1784-5 and 1786 he exhibited views taken on his voyage. He then travelled in

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