Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/518

 ZOF

gave up the enterprise. By this engage- ment he had disappointed and displeased many of his friends, giving up their commis- sions, and leaving his work unfinished, and pressed by his embarrassments, notwith^ standing the patronage he met with, he de- termined to visit Italy again. He left England in 1772, was assisted by a present of 300/., and took with him an introduc- tion from George III. to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. While at Florence he painted the interior of the picture-gallery, which was afterwards purchased by the king. He also received a commission from the Em- press Maria Theresa to paint the Royal Family of Tuscany^ and went to Vienna in 1778 to present his work to the empress, when he was created a Baron of the Aus- trian Empire. On his way home he painted the Court Chapel at Coblentz. While in Italy he was elected a member of the Aca- demies of Bologna, Tuscany, and Parma, and met with greatpatronage.

He returned to England, after an absence of seven years, in 1779, and resumed his profession, exhibiting at the Academy his trait groups, and conversation pieces. He was actively employed when, m 1783, he suddenly determined to go to India— his friend and colleague, Paul Sandby, R.A.. said, 'anticipating to roll in gold-dust. Here again his good fortune accompanied him. He travelled far into the country and received many lucrative commissions. At Lucknow, where he stayed several years, he painted in 1786 the celebrated ' Cock-fight/ his ' Embassy of Hyder-Beck Calcutta,' containing 100 figures, and his ' Tiger Hunt ; ' also many portraits. In 1790 he returned to his family in England. He had already sent home large remit- tances; but with a heavier purse he re- turned with weakened faculties, which, though he continued to paint, declined so rapidly as to leave little trace of his for- mer powers. He died at Strand-on-the- Green, November 11, 1810, and was buried in the neighbouring churchyard at Kew. He was twice married. His first marriage, to the niece of a priest at Coblentz, was unfor- tunate. By ms second wife, a lady whom he married in England, he left four daugh- ters. His early works were grey and hard in colour, and though also rather stiff in drawing, were full of character. Later his colour improved, and was rich and agreeable, with a fine deep tone. Several portrait groups by him are in the Royal collections, and the College of Physicians possesses his interesting work, 'Br. W. Hunter, M.D., delivering an Anatomical Lecture before the Members of the Royal Academy/ which contains portraits of the members. His dramatic portrait groups were greatly es- teemed, and were popularised by the en-
 * Florence Gallery ' and some portraits, por-

<¥ervu^ % Gerrcuy>ToL ~S63y—&/~ G

zuc

gravings of Dixon, Finlayson, and Haid. His Indian groups and some of the Royal portraits were finely produced in mezzo-tint by Earlom.

^ZUCCARELLI, Francesco, R. A., landscape painter. Was born in 1702. at Pitigliano, near Florence, and studied his art in that capital. He then went to Venice, and for a while was lured to history painting. After staying some time in Venice, and visiting Germany, Holland, and France, on the recommendation of the British Consul, he came to London, and during a stay of five years was employed as scene-painter at the Opera House, and also painted some views on the Thames, and some subjects from Shakespeare, and returned to Venice, where he painted some of his best landscapes, but finding that he had become known and admired in Eng- land by the engravings from his works, he came a second time to London, in 1752, and at once met with encouragement. His works became the fashion, and the many which will still be found in our mansions and in the Royal collection prove how largely he was patronised. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and on the establishment of the Royal Academy, 1768, he was nominated one of the foundation members, and in the three following years was a contributor to its exhibitions. He retired to Florence in 1773, and invested his savings on the security of one of the monasteries in that city, which being soon after suppressed, he was left in indigence, and compelled to re- sume his art. He died in Florence in 1788. William Byrne, Woollett, Mayor, Vivares, and Bartolozzi engraved after him. There are some early etchings by him after the old masters. His art was scenic and un- real, marked by an unnatural prettiness, insipid, and made up of oft-repeated parts.

ZUCCHERO, Frederigo, portrait painter. Was born at St. Angelo, in Vado ; in 1543, yet several various dates are given. Was employed by Pope Gregory XIII. and, quarrelling with his officers, he fled to France, where he was engaged: in designing tapestry for the Cardinal de Lorraine. In 1574 he came to England. He painted Queen Elizabeth, Sir Nicholas Bacon, Howard Earl of Nottingham, Sir Francis Walsingham, and other distin- guished persons of her court. He remained several years in England, and then, offended with our religion, having made peace with the Pope, he returned to Rome. The date of his death is usually stated as 1609. There is great uncertainty in the identifi- cation of nis art, and his claim to insertion in this work is. at the least, questionable.

ZUCCHI, Antonio, A.R.A., landscape and decorative painter. He was born at Venice in 1726, and painted some his-

497