Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/78

 BRO

1812 he undertook a series of designs for 'The Satirist/ a monthly publication, which led to his employment to make drawings on wood for the publications of the day. The vignettes for Moore's ' Irish Melodies/ published in 1822, are by him ; also some of the vignettes for Major's edition of ' Izaak Walton,' and the outline figures and gems from the antique for ICeightley's ' Greek and Roman Mythology,' published 1831. His best designs were characteristic, and were well drawn. He died at Chichester, after a long illness, January 12, 1860, aged 88.

BROOKE.H en by, history painter. Was born in Dublin 1738. He came to London in 1761, and by the exlubition of his pictures gained both a reputation and money. In 1767 he married and settled in Dublin, where he lost his money in an unfortunate speculation. He then found employment m the decoration of some Roman Catholic chapels. He died in Dublin 1806.

BROOKING, Charles, marine painter. Born 1723. Was bred in some department of the dockyard at Deptford, and practised as a ship painter. He acquired great skill as a marine painter, but he was in the hands of the dealers, and lived in obscurity. He painted sea- views and sea-fights, which showed an extensive knowledge of naval tactics ; his colour was bright and clear, his water pellucid, his manner broad and spirited. He promised to become eminent, but died under 36 years of age from con- sumption, induced by mistaken medical treatment, at his lodging in Castle Street, Leicester Square, in the spring of 1759, just as he was getting into repute. His works have been engraved by R. B. Godfrey, Ravenet, Canot, and Boydell. There is a very fine sea-piece of large dimensions by him in the Foiindling Hospital. The re- cords of the Royal Academy show that 1 William Brooking, the son of a painter ' — and doubtless his son — was apprenticed to a peruke-maker, with a fee of 11 guineas out of the proceeds of the first exhibition ; and from other documents it is clear that his widow and children were left in extreme distress, and that another son was an inmate of St. Luke's Workhouse.

BROOKS (or BROOKES), John, mezzo- tint engraver. Was born in Ireland, and was a very popular engraver towards the middle of the 18th century. He discovered a method of printing in enamel to burn on china, which was applied in a manufactory at Liverpool and some other places, and then at Battersea, where appropriate build- ings were erected for the purpose, at which Gwinn, a clever designer, and John Hall, the engraver, then very young, were em- ployed. Their designs were popular, and the enterprise might have succeeded but

BRO

for the dissipated conduct and bad manage- ment of Brooks, which led to the ruin of Sir Stephen T. Jansen, then (1755) lord mayor of London, who had embarked in it. On this failure, Brooks, who had re- sided at Battersea till 1756. when he was bankrupt, took up his abode with a con- genial friend, a publican in Westminster, and never for years quitted his room, except to accompany his friend on his removal to Bloomsbury, where he then continued in the same conclusion till his death. In his younger days he had been industrious. He worked chiefly on portraits ; but there is a plate by him, after Wyck, of ' The Battle of the Boyne ; ' but it is very doubtful whether several plates which bear his name are not by his pupils. He is distinguished as the master of McArdell and Houston.

BROOKSHAW, Richard, draftsman and mezzo-tint engraver. Born about 1736. For many years he practised un- noticed in London, earning only 25s. a week while engraving after the most celebrated masters. He then went to France, where his talents were recognised, and he was admitted a member of several societies and well remunerated. Among his works, which are not numerous, his best are—* The Flight out of Egypt/ after Rubens; portraits of Louis A VI. and Marie Antoinette; a sea-piece; 'Moon- light,' and ' A Storm/ after Kobell ; « A Lady/ half-length; and 'The Earl of Radnor/ after Reynolds. He also en- graved for the * Pomona Britannica/ a costly work, published 1804.

BROWN, Christian, botanical painter. He was chiefly employed upon the illustra- tions for botanical works. Died in Mary- lebone. May 7, 1803.

BROWN, David, landscape painter. Was brought up a house and sign painter. He became so infatuated with George Morland's art that, at the age of 35, he parted with a good business to become his pupil. He was a man of persevering, steady habits, and learned to make re- spectable copies of his master's works ; but could not Dear his excesses, and was obliged to leave him. He exhibited land- scape views and landscapes with figures at the Academy in 1792, and up to 1797. He retired into the country to gain his livelihood as a teacher of drawing.

BROWN, John, sergeant painter to Henry VIII. He received a pension of 10/. a year. He built Painters' Hall for the Company 1553, and his portrait is

E reserved there. Edward VI. appointed im, or an artist of the same name, sur- veyor of the coins.

BROWN, John, engraver. He practised as a draftsman and copper-plate engraver in London about 1676, and is known by several portraits from his hand.