Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Oliver, Archer James
OLIVER, ARCHER JAMES (1774–1842), portrait-painter and associate of the Royal Academy, was born in 1774. In 1791 he exhibited a portrait of himself at the Royal Academy, and in 1793 was admitted a student in the schools of that institution. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy and the British Institution for fifty years, his chief work being portraits, though he occasionally painted small domestic subjects of still-life. At one time Oliver had a large and fashionable practice as a portrait-painter, with a studio in New Bond Street. He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1807. Latterly his practice fell off, and he was appointed curator of the painting school of the Royal Academy. Towards the end of his life his health failed, and he was supported to a great extent out of the Academy funds. Oliver died in 1842.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760-1880; Sandby's Hist. of the Royal Academy; Royal Academy Catalogues.]