Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/137

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DAV

parish, Bedford. Came with his family in infancy to London, where his father then practised as a land surveyor and architect. On completing his education he was articled to Charles Warren, then in much repute, and from him gained a good knowledge of the art of engraving on copper. His early works were chiefly for book illustration, from the designs of Shenton, Corbould, ana others; but he subsequently became spe- cially known as an engraver of portraits, from the large number which he produced in outline for biographical works, having engraved no less than 700 for one public- ation alone. On the introduction of steel plates, he was one of the first to practise in that metal. He was largely engaged en- graving on steel for the annuals, and among the illustrations for these and some other publications the best examples of his care- ful finish and refined art will be found. He died July 15. 1867.

DAVIDSON, J.. portrait painter. Prac- tised in Edinburgh in the middle of the last century. Roubiliac modelled, after a

g>rtrait by him, the statue of President uncan Forbes, now in the Parliament House, Edinburgh.

DAVIS, Richard Barrett, animal painter. Born at Watford in 1782. His father was huntsman to the royal harriers. King George III., who was pleased with some of his drawings, placed him under Sir William Beechey, R.A., and at the age of 19 he was admitted to the schools of the Royal Academy. He first exhibited there in 1802 a landscape, but in 1806 sent ' Mares and Foals from the Royal Stud at Windsor ' and 'The Portrait of an Old Hunter/ Continuing to exhibit, he sent, in 1814, 'Going to Market;' in 1821, a

  • Horse Fair ; ' in 1831, ' Travellers attacked

by Wolves/ and was in that year appointed animal painter to William IV., and painted for his Majesty the cavalcade which formed his coronation procession. He joined the Suffolk Street society in 1829, and became one of its influential members and exhibit- ors. He died in March 1854.

DAVIS, Edward, subject painter. He was born at Worcester in 1833, and studied at the School of Design in that city, where he gained several prizes. He first ex- hibited at the Academy, in 1854, ' Medi- tation/ a small domestic subject, and continued an exhibitor of works of that class ; in 1858, ' Granny's Spectacles ; ' in 1859, 'Doing Crochet Work;' in 1861, ' Words of Peace ; ' in 1867, ' The Little Peg-top.' He died at Rome, June 13,

1867.

DAVIS, J. P. (called 'Pope Davis'), portrait painter. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1811, and in that and the next 10 years his contributions were exclusively portraits in oil. In 1824 he went to Rome, I 116

DAV

and while there painted a very large pic- ture of 4 The Talbot Family receiving the Benediction of the Pope/ from which his cognomen arose, and the following year he was awarded 50/. by the directors of the British Institution. In 1826— he had then returned to London— he exhibited at the Academy ' Canova Crowned by the Genius of Sculpture' and 'A Trasteverina Pan- dora ; ' and after that a portrait in 1827. and again in 1830; in 1842, an 'Infant Bacchus ; ' and the following year a por- trait, his last contribution. He was a great friend of B. R. Haydon, and joined with him in bitter animosity to the Aca- demy. He published in 1858, ' The Royal Academy and the National Gallery. What is the State of these Institutions ? ' After his death his friends published, in 1866, his ' Thoughts on Great Painters? DAVIS, John Scarlett, subject

fainter. Was the son of a shoemaker at [ereford. He took early to art. studied for some time in the Louvre, and was re- markable for his great facihty. He made his first contribution to the Academy Ex- hibition in 1825, ' My Den.' In 1830 he sent 'Interior of a Library.' He then went to the Continent. He painted the interior of the gallery at Florence in 1834. a successful interior of the Louvre, ana afterwards became noted for his interiors of libraries, galleries, and works of that class. In 1841 he was at Amsterdam, and sent to the Academy ' Jack, after a success- ful Cruise,' visiting his old Comrades at Greenwich.' He married early in hie, became drunken and of demoralised habits — got into prison and died before the age of 30. His works were of much promise* but wanted completeness and finish. He lithographed and published 12 heads from sketches by Rubens ; also, in 1832, some views of Bolton Abbey, drawn by him from nature on the stone. In 1831 Lord Farnborough gave him a commission to paint an interior of the Vatican and of the Escurial, but it does not appear that these works were executed.

DAVIS, W. H., animal painter. He appears in 1835 as an exhibitor at the Royal Academy of ' A Heath Scene with a Group of Asses,' and in the succeeding years exhibited 'A Group of celebrated Greyhounds/ ' Girl with Cows/ ' Shepherd Boy/ and continued a contributor up to 1849, when his name no longer appears in the catalogues.

DAVIS, M., wood engraver. Was well known as an engraver of woodcuts for printers. Resided in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, where he practised nearly 60 years, and died January 28, 1784, aged. 74.

DAVIS, William, landscape painter. Born in 1812, in Dublin, of an old family, he studied in the Dublin Academy. He