BOY
BRA
profits of this work enabled him to employ seme of the best engravers of that time in producing specimens of the old masters, and to commence a career which raised the engraver's art to a high eminence in this country ; and while treating the pro- fession with great liberality, gained a fortune for himself. Having achieved this, he commissioned artists to paint subjects for the engraver, and in 1786 he adopted the scheme of a * Shakespeare Gallery/ He alone found the funds, and employing every English artist of distinction to paint subjects from the works of the great poet, he exhibited them in a gallery he had built for the purpose in Pall Mall (now converted to other uses), and then engaged engravers to produce the whole series, and published it by subscription. He had ventured an extensive capital, but the French Revolution deranged his large ordinary transactions with the Continent, and he was bankrupt. Parliament em- powered him to dispose of his gallery of paintings, which he nad purposed to pre- sent to the nation, and also his stock, by lottery, and he was enabled to discharge the whole of his debts. He died soon after, December 12, 1804, at his house in Oheapside, and was buried at St. Olave's, Coleman Street. As an engraver he never made much progress himself ; but the art owed to his enterprise a pre-eminence it had never before Known. He filled the office of sheriff in 1785, and lord mayor in 1790.
- BOYDELL, Josiah, portrait and his-
tory painter. Born at Stanton, Shropshire, about 1760. Nephew of the foregoing ; bred in his counting-house, and eventually his partner and successor. He had a pro- fessional training both in painting and engraving, and painted some portraits and several of the subjects in the Shakespeare Gallery. The latter are by no means poor works— -compositions with many figures, and a little in the manner of Westall, R. A. — though his uncle, in the preface to the engraved work, makes an apology for him, which seems hardly needed. He exhibited at the Academy from 1772 to 1799, his works consisting of some portraits, a 'Juno/ 'Gipsy Girl/ and — apparently his most aspiring contribution — 'Coriolanus taking leave of his Family/ He published, in 1803, ' Suggestions towards forming a Plan for the Improvement of the Arts and Sciences.' He succeeded his uncle in his alderman's gown, and was master of the Stationers' Company. Died at Halliford, Middlesex. March 27, 1817.
BOYDEN, William, architect. His name is recorded, as the chief architect of the chapel of the Virgin, in the Abbey Church of St. Alban's, 1308-26.
BOYFIELD, John, architect Com-
pleted, towards the end of the 14th century, the works commenced in 1350 for the improvement of Gloucester Cathedral.
BOYNE, John, caricaturist and en- graver. He was born in the County Down about 1760. He was the son of a joiner, who was afterwards employed in the Victualling Office at Deptf ord, and brought his son, then about 9 years of age, with him to England. The boy was apprenticed to William Byrne, the engraver, and for a time followed that employment ; but, fall- ing into bad habits, he sold his tools and joined a company of strolling players, among whom ne became distrnguisned. Leaving them in 1781 he returned to London, set up a drawing school, made some literary attempts, ana both sketched and engraved. He excelled in caricature.
- The Muck-worm ' and the ' Glow-worm '
are by him, as is also 4 The Meeting of the Connoisseurs/ the original drawing of which is exhibited at the South Kensington Museum. Reckless in his habits and always poor, he died June 22, 1810.
BRADBERRY, Thomas, architect. Student of the Royal Academy. Gained the gold medal, 1823, for an architectural design for 4 A Hospital for Sailors.' He does not afterwards appear as an exhibitor at the Academy.
BRADLEY, William, portrait paint" er. Born at Manchester, January 16, 1801. Left an orphan at 3 years of age. he commenced life as an errand boy, but early began to try his hand at drawing, and was soon able to produce profile por- traits, for which he received Is. each. He also added to his means by teaching. When 21 years of age he got some little instruction from Mather Brown, then practising in Manchester, and soon after made his way up to London. Establishing himself in the Metropolis he paid frequent visits to his native town, and was induced to return and settle there in 1847 ; but his health had given way, he became misan- thropic, his mind was affected, and he died of typhoid fever, July 4, 1867. He achieved a local reputation, and many distinguished men were among his sitters. His heads were well drawn and intellectual, his like- nessgood.
BRADSHAW, Lawrence, architect. His name is mentioned as practising in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, but his works are now unknown.
BRAGG, Thomas, engraver. He was a pupil of W. Sharp, and practised at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1821 he exhibited his works with the As- sociated Society of Engravers. He died 1840.
BRAGGE, Francis, engraver. Prac- tised in the reign of James II.
BRANDARD, Robert, landscape en- 2 51
