Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/73

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

BRA

graver. Was born in Birmingham 1805. He came to London in 1824, and placed himself for one year under Mr. Edw. Goodall. Then, working on his own account, he engraved some plates for Brockedon's ' Passes of the Alps ' and Captain Batty' a 'Saxony.' Gaining power, he was next employed upon Turner's 'England' and 'English Rivers' and upon many plates after Turner, Callcott, and Stanfield. He published, in 1844, a series of etched scraps from nature, very well etched, but having more of the character of the engravers than the painter's art. At the International Exhibition, 1862, two works by him were exhibited after Turner 'Crossing the Brook ' — esteemed his best work — and

  • The Snow Storm.' He occasionally ex-

hibited a small oil painting at the British Institution, and excelled as a painter in water-colours. He died Jan. 7, 1862.

BRANDON, , portrait painter.

Practised in the reign of William and Mary. A portrait by him of the Queen is engraved by Gunst.

BRANDON, Joshua Arthur, archi- tect He built, jointly with John R. Brandon, his brother, the New Corn Ex- change at Colchester, and Ports wood Chapel, Southampton ; and published, also in con- junction with him, ' An Analysis of Gothic Architecture' and 'Views of Parish Churches.' He died in Beaufort Buildings, Strand, December 11, 1847, aged 25.

BRANDON, J. Raphael, architect. Brother of the above, was born in 1817, and was a Fellow of the ' Royal Institute of British Architects.' He was the archi- tect of the Catholic Apostolic Church, in Gordon Square, and other buildings. In conjunction with his brother, Mr. J. A. Brandon, he wrote many works upon then- own branch of art, which both the brothers practised with success. Among other publications may be mentioned 'Norfolk Churches,' ' Parish Churches,' ' The open timbered roofs of the Middle Ages,' and 'An Analysis of Gothic Architecture ' ; some of these passed through more than one edition. He fell into a state of despond- ency and bad health, chiefly arising from what he considered professional disap- pointment, and died by his own hand, at nis chambers in Clements Inn, October 8, 1877, aged 60.

BRANSTON, Allen Robert, wood engraver. Born 1778, at Lynn, Norfolk. Apprenticed to his father, a general copper- plate engraver, and when in his 19th year settled at Bath, and practised both as a painter and an engraver. He then un- dertook some woodcuts for a work describ- ing that city, but not finding encourage- ment he came to London in 1799, and for a time supported himself by engraving music. Then he engraved some woodcuts 52

BRE

for lottery bills, and determined to apply himself to wood engraving. He soon became distinguished. He formed a style of his own, engraved the figure well, and excelled in the gradations of light in indoor scenes. His best works are in ' The History of England,' published by Scholey. 1804^10; Bloomfield's 'Wild Flowers/ 1806; and 'Poems' by George Marshall, 1812. He had several pupils, and many clever artists were indebted to his teaching. He died at Brompton in 1827.

BRANWHITE, Nathan, engraver. A very good stipple engraver, theparticulars of whose life are not laiown. He made an excellent engraving of Medley's picture of the Medical Society of London. A curious fact about this work was that Jenner came into great notice during the painting of the picture, and after it was finished it was decided to add his portrait The plate was partially engraved before the decision to put him in was arrived at, and a piece of copper had to be let in, as back-ground details had been worked over the spot upon which his head and shoulders were subsequently placed. Branwhite was a pupil of Isaac Taylor's, and the son of a schoolmaster at Lakenham, in Suffolk.

BRAY, Sir Reginald, architect. He was a distinguished statesman, holding the highest offices in the reign of Edward IV. He was high steward of the University of Oxford in the reign of Henry VII., and the architect of the large additions then made to St. Mary's Church. He built Henry VII.'s Chapel at Westminster, and, it is supposed, St. George's Chapel at Wind- sor, two of the finest Gothic structures. He was eminent both as an architect and a statesman. He died in 1503, and is buried at Windsor.

BRENTWOOD, John, ornamentist. Citizen and steyner of London. Was one of the artists engaged upon the Warwick tomb, in the chapel of Warwick Church, in the time of Henry VI. He painted the west wall and the dome with all manner of devices and imagery, with the finest colours and fine gold, 1439.

BRETHERTON, James, engraver. He was born about the middle of the 18th century. He etched and aqua-tinted after Bunbury and others, and some works after his own designs. Of those after Bunbury, whose works ne published, were ' Susannah and Blouzelinda,' 1781 ; 4 Snip Francais and Snip Anglais,' 1773; 'A Tour in Foreign Farts/ His chief productions date between 1770 and 1790.

BRETHERTON, Charles, enaraver. Son of the foregoing. He engraved, views, landscapes, and portraits, and was em- ployed Dy Walpole on the portrait illus- trations for his 'Anecdotes of Painters.' There is by him an etching after Samuel