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portrait painter. Brother of the above. Was born in 1787, at Manchester, and in early life engaged in a commercial house, and had charge of a branch establishment at Gibraltar, where he lost his health from an attack of the plague, and returned to England about 1813. During his convalescence he developed a taste for drawing, and, assisted by his brother, devoted himself to study from the antique. He then came to London and established himself in Newman Street. In 1821 he first exhibited at the Academy, and continued an exhibitor, exclusively of portraits, till his death. His works were distinguished by quiet taste and finish, but he did not gain much patronage. Some of his best portraits are at Manchester. He died October 29, 1849, aged 62. With great musical talent, he had the gift of a fine voice, and was for some time organist at Irving's church in Hatton Garden.
FAYRAM, J., landscape painter. He practised about the middle of the 18th century. One of his landscapes is engraved by Major, and there are some etchings by him of views about Chelsea and Battersea, and one of the Hermitage in Kew Gardens.
FEARY, John, Landscape painter. Practised in London. He gained a premium at the Society of Arts in 1775, and painted views of gentlemen's seats and parks. He exhibited at the Academy, first time, in 1772, and continued, with little intermission, an exhibitor up to 1788.
FELLOWES, James, portrait painter. Practised with some repute in the reigns of George I. and Geerge II. He was the reputed painter of 'The Last Supper,' an altar-piece, at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, which gave great offence from the assumed representation of Judas by the portrait of Dean, afterwards Bishop Kennet. This work, which has also been ascribed to Sir James Thornhill, was said to have been removed to the Abbey Church at St. Alban's. It was engraved, and the Society of Antiquaries possessed a print of it.
FERG, Francis Paul, landscape painter. Born in Vienna 1689, the son of an obscure artist. He studied under several masters in that capital, and gained a name by his small landscapes with figures, which he painted chiefly on copper. Invited by the Court to Dresden, he passed several years there, and after a short stay at Brunswick, he came to London in 1718, and at once found employment and settled. His circumstances became depressed by an imprudent marriage, and he was always poor, not from excess but from indolence. His works, though sought after by purchasers, were no sooner hurriedly finished than they were taken to the pawnbroker, and were rarely redeemed. He is said to have died in the street, near the door of his lodging, and to have been in want of common necessaries. This happened in 1740, at the age of 51, and he was buried by a subscription raised for the purpose. His landscapes were pleasing, combining picturesque ruins and small figures well drawn. His 'Four Seasons' were engraved by Major in 1754, and Vivares and others engraved after him. He etched eight plates, which he inscribed 'Capricci fatti, per F. P. F.'
FERGUSON, William G., still-life painter. Born in Scotland, he learned the rudiments of art there, and then greatly improved himself by travel in France and Italy. He painted still-life with great skill, his composition good, and light and shade effective. His principal subjects were dead birds, particularly pigeons and partridges, sometimes hares, rabbits, and other objects. He died in London about 1690.
FERGUSON, James, portrait draftsman. He was born in Banffshire, of very poor parents, in 1710, and learned to read by hearing his father teach his elder brother. He had no other instruction, no books; and servant to a farmer he discovered a peculiar aptitude for mathematics, and studied the stars while he minded his master's sheep, gaining a knowledge of astronomy by his own contemplation of the heavens. He had also cultivated some power of drawing. Finding at last some friends, he was sent by them to Edinburgh to study, and there, and afterwards in England, supported himself for several years by drawing miniature portraits in black lead while pursuing his more serious studies, which have given him a well-known name as an astronomer. Several of these portraits existed at Bristol. He died in 1776, aged 66.
FERNELEY, J. E., animal painter. Was born in 1781, and brought up as a wheelwright; but, urged by a desire to try art, he abandoned his trade and studied, with some success, to paint animals. He settled among the sporting men at Melton Mowbray, and his first sitter was Mr. Assheton Smith, of fox-hunting celebrity. Others soon followed, and from 1818 to 1849 he exhibited at the Royal Academy portraits of Huntsmen and their horses, dogs and fox-hunting, and hunting-groups. He died June 3, 1860, aged 79.
FERRERS, Benjamin, portrait painter. He was deaf and dumb, and practised about the middle of the 18th century. There is a portrait by him of Bishop Hoadly, said to have been his kinsman, which is painted with a good deal of rude vigour, and in the Bodleian Library a small oval portrait of Bishop Beveridge. Several of his portraits are engraved.
FERRIÈRE, F., miniature painter. He is believed to have been a native of Switzerland. He came early to this country, and practised both in oil and water--
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