Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/126

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tion from a Catholic priest. He then went into the office of an attorney, who on his death left him 20001. With these means he came to London, where he was noticed and befriended by Sir Joshua Reynolds. He painted portraits and sometimes tried history, but was unable to secure a place on the walls of the Academy, often suffer- ing the rejection of his works; but a

  • Death of Chatterton' gained him some

notice, and gave a promise which was not fulfilled. He excelled in what were called

  • Poker pictures.' He lived many years at

Bath, and died unmarried in that city in February. 1821, aged 70. He published a work — 'On the Economy of Testaments/ 1794 ; and wrote ' Inducements to Promote the Fine Arts of Great Britain.'

CRANE, Francis. A skilful artist, founded a manufactory of tapestry at Mort- lake in Surrey, in the reign of James I. This manufactory was patronised by the King, and afterwards by Charles I., for whom were wrought a great number of hangings, remarkable for the beauty of their execution. He died in 1703.

CRANE, Thomas, portrait painter. Born at Chester 1808. Assisted Dy some friends he came to London in 1824, and was admitted to the schools of the Royal Aca- demy. After two years' study he returned to Chester, and at the age of 18 commenced practice as a miniature painter. In 1832 he exhibited his first work at the Liverpool Academy, and was soon after made an associate, and in 1830 a member of that society. Then marrying, he came to London, but was compelled by weak health to leave the Metropolis, and he tried Leamington and some other places. Improved in health, he came again to London in 1844, and again compelled to leave, he settled at Torquay, where he remained 12 years; and in 1857 he removed to Bayswater, but his health again failed, and gradually sink- ing, he died there in July 1859. He painted some domestic subjects — ' The De- serted Village,' * The Cobbler/ * Masquer- ading' — and was an occasional exhibitor at the Academy. Though successful in his portraits, both in oil and water-colours, his reputation was only provincial, and his works were little known in the Metro- polis.

CRANKE, James, portrait painter. He practised in London, where he enjoyed some repute, about 1750; and was from 1775 to his death an occasional exhibitor at the Royal Academy. He died at Urswick, near Ulverston, in 1780, aged 73.

CRAWFORD, William, A.B.S.A., por- trait and subject painter. He was born at Ayr, N.B. He studied his art at the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh, where he was a pupil of Sir William Allan, made good progress, and gained a travelling

studentship, which enabled him to continue his study for several years in Rome. On his return to Scotland, he conducted the drawing classes in the Trustees' Academy till 1835. He painted portraits and small subject pictures, and his small crayon por- traits were much esteemed. He was elected an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1862. Settled in Edinburgh, he was from 1853 a frequent exhibitor almost ex- clusively of portraits, at the Royal Academy in London. He is best remembered by his ' Highland Keeper's Daughter,' 1865 ; * More Free than Welcome,' 1867 ; and ' Return from Maying.' He died, after a short ill- ness, August 2, 1869.

CREED, Carey, engraver. He drew and etched a number of plates, in a slight but clever manner, in illustration of the statues and busts at Wilton, which he pub- lished in 1731.

CREED, Mrs. Elizabeth, amateur. Was the only daughter of Sir Gilbert Pickering, Bart., and cousin to the poet Dryden. She was born in 1642. She mar- ried a county gentleman of Oundle, and on his death employed herself in painting, and gratuitously instructed young females in fine needlework and other elegant arts. Many churches in the neighbourhood of Oundle were decorated with altar-pieces and other works by her hands. There is a portrait by her of the first Earl of Sandwich at Drayton; and her descend- ants possessed many other portraits and some pictures painted by her. She died in May 1728. Her daughter, who became Mrs. Steward, had like artistic tastes, and decorated the hall of an Old Tudor house near Oundle, but her work no longer re- mains.

CREGAN, Martin, R.H.A., portrait painter. He was one of the members of the Royal Hibernian Academy on its in- corporation in 1823. He practised both in Dublin and in London. He was residing in London in 1812, and in that year, ana yearly up to 1821, when he contributed a portrait of Miss Dance as 'Mrs. Haller,' was a constant exhibitor at the Royal Aca- demy. In the following year he returned to Dublin, where he had some sitters of distinction.

CRESWICK, Thomas, R.A., landscape painter. He was born at Sheffield, Fet>- ruary 5, 181 1, and gained some early know- ledge of art in Birmingham, where he was a pupil of Mr. J. V. Barber. In 1828 he came up to London, where he settled, and at once commenced as an exhibitor at the British Institution and the Royal Academy. His first works were chiefly Welsh scenes, followed by some views in Ireland. After 1840 he found his best subjects in the North of England, selecting with great taste the many beautiful passages which

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