Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/393

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companions he was dubbed ' Master Row- ley/ and though careless of his reputation, he was scrupulously honourable, and Ids word was always good in all his transactions. He died at his apartments in the Adelphi, after two years' illness, April 22, 1827.

ROW LETT, Thomas, draftsman. Practised in London, about the middle of the ISth century, both as a draftsman and etcher, chiefly in portraiture. There is a

Eortrait of Dobson, the painter, etched by im.

RUBENSTEIN, -^.drapery and portrait painter. Born in Germany. He came to England, early in life, and found employment chiefly in the drudgery of drapery painting, but he occasionally paint- ed still-life and portraits. He was a mem- ber of the St. Martin's Lane Academy. Died in London about 1763. t RUNCIMANj Alexander, history nahvter. Was born m 1736, in Edinburgh, where his father was a builder, and was Apprenticed to a coach-painter, under whom he acquired some knowledge of colours. He studied for a time in Foulis's Academy at Glasgow, and is said to have been the pupil of an eminent landscape painter, under whom he made much progress. About 1766 he managed, with his brother, to travel to Rome, where he studied during five years, and painted his large picture. ' Nausicaa at Play with her Maidens/ ana sent home, in 1767, a picture which he ex- hibited that year with the Free Society of Artists. On his return he lodged, in 1772, in Leicester Square, and was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy. In 1773 he settled in Edinburgh, and was fortunate in being appointed the manager to the Trustees' Academy, with a salary of 120/. a-vear, which gave him the means of applying himself to ambitious works. He decorated the great hall of Pennicuik with a series of subjects from Ossian, and painted several easel pictures, l The Prodigal Son,' ' Cymon and Iphigenia,' and * Sigismunda Weeping over the Heart of Tancred,' reputed his best work. An altar-piece for the Epis- copal Chapel at the Cowgate, Edinburgh, was his last completed work. He etched several plates in a loose sketchy manner. On October 21, 1785, he fell down in the street, and died suddenly.

  • RUNCIMAN, John, historical painter.

Was brother of the foregoing, oorn at Edinburgh in 1744, and an artist of much promise. He went with his brother to Rome and died at Naples, where he had gone for the recovery of his health, in 1766. Among his works are * Judith and Holo- fernes? * Christ and the Disciples at Em- maus,' * King Lear in the Storm.' He was of much promise, and the Scottish Academy erected a monument to him and his brother at the Canongate Church, Edinburgh. 372

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Barry, R.A., spoke highly of him. A clever picture ov him was exhibited at the International Exhibition, 1862. He etched some of his works, and some others are ensrraved

RUPERT,' The Prince, amateur. Was born in 1619, the third son of the Prince Palatine of the Rhine and the Princess Elizabeth, and consequently nephew of Charles I., on whose side he fought during the civil war, but with more courage than

Erudence. On the termination of the war e retired to Paris, where he sought amuse- ment in the pursuit of art. While in Eng- land he was Governor of Windsor Castle, and principally resided in that fortress. He was a mathematician and a chemist, but it is as a mezzo-tintist he finds a place here. He has been credited with the in- vention of this charming art. He certainly learned the secret early, practised it, and introduced it to the artists of this country by whom it was first employed. There are several known plates by him, some of them marked with his initials and a crown, and some fine impressions, which show con- siderable art-merit, in the print-room of the British Museum. He also produced some etchings. He died, unmarried, in 1682, having completed his 63rd year.

RUSSEL, Theodore, portrait painter. Was the son of a jeweller at Bruges, and was born in 1614. He was the nephew of Cornelius Jansen, with whom he lived several years, and afterwards with Van- dyck, whose pictures he copied, small size, lie was much employed in the families of the Earls of Essex and Holland. Some of his works are in the Royal collections. Small whole-lengths by him of Charles II. and James II., removed from Hampton Court, are at Holyrood Palace. They are well drawn, and vigorously painted, but the flesh is black and disagreeable in colour, and the draperies crude.

RUSSEL, Antony, portrait painter. Son of the foregoing. Said to have been a

Eupil of Riley, whose manner he imitated, ut without much success. Both Vertue and J. Smith engraved after him, the latter his portrait of Br. Sacheverell. He died in July, 1743, aged above four score years. RUSSELL, John, R. A. , portrait painter. Born at Guildford, where his father was a bookseller, in April, 1744. The Society of Arts awarded him a pre- mium in 1759, and he was afterwards pupil of Cotes, R.A., and a student at the St. Martin's Lane Academy. He practised in crayons, but occasionally in ou, and pro- duced some excellent crayon portraits. His early works in crayon were in the man- ner of his master, but he attained more

power, both in colour and effect. His groups are pleasing, well drawn, and the expression natural. In 1768 he first ex-