Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/495

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is a moonlight by him in the National Gallery. He died at Barnes, June 24, 1855, leaving six sons who followed the arts, three ol whom changed their names to preserve identity in their art. WILLIAMS, Hugh William (called

Was born in 1773 in Wales, wnere he claimed an ancient descent. He early settled in Edinburgh, and Scotland became his adopted country. He was in 1807 a candidate for admission into the Water- Colour Society, and in 1808 joined the new Society of Painters in Water-Colours, which that year started into a brief exist- ence. Many of his early topographical views are engraved in the ' Scot's Maga- zine.' After gaining a reputation in Edin- burgh, where he was a great favourite. he travelled several years in Greece ana Italy, and on his return in 1818 published
 * Grecian Williams '), water-colour painter.

Islands/ 1820, and in numbers completed, in 1822, his « Views in Greece.' In 1822 he exhibited in Edinburgh a collection of his sketches and drawings m these countries. He married a lady of good family and fortune, and died June 23, 1849. His drawings possessed great breadth, with rich and harmonious colouring; his trees well drawn, his masses of foliage simple. There is an account of his gallery in 'Peter's Letters.'
 * Travels in Italy, Greece, and the Ionian

WILLIAMS, Jakes Fbancis, R.S.A., landscape painter. Was born in Perth- shire, and. it is believed, came to London at an early age, and was connected with the stage, both as a scene-painter and actor. About 1810 he returned to Edinburgh to paint scenes for the Edinburgh Theatre. After a time he left the theatre, settled in Edinburgh as a landscape-painter, and was much employed as a teacher. On the found- ation of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1830 he was chosen one of the members, and in 1840 was elected to the office of Treasurer. In 1823, and some subsequent years, he contributed some Scotch landscape scenes to the Royal Academy. He died at Glasgow October 31, 1846, aged 61.

WILLIAMS, John (known as 'An- thony Pasquin'), engraver. Studied in the schools of the Royal Academy, and was apprenticed to learn engraving, to Matthew Darby, the well-known carica- turist. If as an artist he is unknown, his caustic art-criticism has given him a name. He wrote a ' Liberal Critique on the Exhi- bition for 1794,' 'Memoirs of the Acade- micians, being an Attempt to Improve the Taste of the Realm,' and 'An Authentic History of the Artists of Ireland.' He emigrated to America, and died at Brooklyn in 1818.

WILLIAMS, John Michael, portrait painter. Is reputed to have been a pupil 474

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[of Jonathan Richardson, and practised in London with much reputation about the middle of the 18th century. His works I were much admired in his day, but appear without an air of fashion. His portraits have been engraved by McArdell, C. Cor- ibutt, and F. Faber. He exhibited at the rooms of the Incorporated Society in the Strand in 1761. He resided in Scotland Yard, and is supposed to have died about 1780.
 * slight in drawing and weak, yet are not

W ILLIAMS, J. T., gem-engraver. Born in the latter part of the 18th century. Was brought up as a sculptor. He made several copies from the antique, and some statuettes and bas-reliefs ; and afterwards engraved some gems, both cameos and intaglios, and upon these his reputation rests.

• WILLIAMS, Rogeb (or Robert), #uk\ mezzo-tint engraver. Was born in Wales,^^ * and practised in the reign of Queen Anne. He is said to have been a pupil of Theo- dore Freres, who was brought to this country in 1687 by Sir Peter Lely, and remained here only a short time. He dis- tinguished himself in his art, and his por- traits after Vandyck, Eneller, Wissing, and ty/j others are finely executed. His leg was / accidentally injured and he suffered am- putation, which he survived many years.

WILLIAMS, Solomon, R.H.A., his- tory and portrait painter. Was born in Dublin ana studied m the Dublin Academy. He exhibited a portrait in wax at the Royal Academy m 1782. and afterwards some oil portraits. He then visited Italy, making some stay at Rome, and Bologna, where he was admitted a member of the Academy. He sent from thence, for exhi- bition in London, in 1792, a portrait group ; in 1796, some domestic subjects and por- traits. He brought home some good copies after Titian. He practised for a time in Dublin, but towards the end of the century he was in London, and in 1804 and 1807 was a contributor of some classic subjects to the Academy exhibition. In 1823 he was engaged on a large painting, 'The Trial of Algernon Sydney. He was one of the foundation members of the Royal Hibernian Academy. He died August 2, 1824.

WILLIAMS, Samuel, wood-engraver. Was born at Colchester, oi poor but respect- able parents, February 23, 1788, and was apprenticed there to a nouse-painter. After teaching himself to etch, he tried wood- engraving, and on the completion of his apprenticeship had made sufficient progress to trust to that art for his Uvelihood. He was first employed to engrave the illus- trations to a work on natural history, and his success did not fail to gain him other engagements ; his great ability is evidenced

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