Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/134

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Delivery of the Israelites out of Egypt ; ' and the same year was elected an associate of the Academy, and came to reside in the Metropolis. His ' The Opening of the Sixth Seal,' exhibited at the Institution in 1828. gained him a premium of 200 guineas, ana was followed at the Academy in 1829 by two pictures from the Revelation — fine works, fully maintaining his reputation in the grand style of landscape art which he had made his own. But in this latter year a rupture took place between him and the Academy, which unhappily never healed, and was one among other causes which lea him to leave England for the Continent.

During the next 11 years he resided principally in Switzerland, boat-building and yachting on the Lake of Geneva, mak- ing small studies and drawings, and paint- ing some few works on commission. We lose sight of his works in the London Ex- hibitions, with the exception of his * Gold- en Age/ which appeared in the Academy in 1831, and his 'Rich and rare were the gems she wore/ in 1837 ; and it is not till 1841, when he returned to England, that his name occurs as an exhibitor ; and from that year, with the omission of 1852 and 1856, he was a contributor to the Academy Exhibitions, and occasionally to the British Institution ; the ' Evening Gun/ exhibited at the former in 1848, ranking among his best works. He had resided at Exmouth since 1847, and died there February 9, 1861, his life no doubt saddened by along exile and the loss of many art friendships. He left two sons, James and Thomas, who follow the profession of landscape painters.

Danby will always take high rank with the lovers of art and genius. His imagina- tion was of the highest class, his landscapes of the truest poetry ; he studied the grand- est and saddest aspects of nature, combin- ing her largest truths in his ideal creations, avoiding all mere imitative littleness, ana conjuring up scenes of voluptuous beauty. Several of his finest works nave been well engraved.

JDANBY, James Francis, landscape painter. Son of the above Francis Danby, was born at Bristol in 1816. He was a member of the Society of British Artists, and a constant exhibitor at the Royal Aca- demy. His sunset effects always attracted attention by their brilliant colouring and poetic treatment. Amongst other works ne contributed to the Academy in 1849, 'Dover from Canterbury Road 5 ; in 1851, ' Wicklow Mountains, Sunset ' ; in 1854, 'Dumbarton Rock'; 1860, 'View on the Thames ' : and in 1867, ' Oarrickfergus Castle.' He died suddenly from apoplexy, October 22, 1875, in London, aged 59.

DANCE, George, architect. He was appointed surveyor and architect to the city of London. He built the Mansion

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House in 1739 ; the church of St. Botolph, Aldeate, which has little merit, in 1741-44 ; St. Leonard, Shoreditch ; and the old Ex- cise Office in Broad Street, finished in 1768. He died January 11, 1768, and was buried at St. Luke's, Old Street There is a collec- tion of his drawings in the Soane Museum. • DANCE, George, R.A., architect. Son of the foregoing. He was born 1740, and was brought up in his father's office. In pursuit of his art he travelled in France and Italy, studying some time in Rome. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and in 1761 sent to their exhibition his design for Blackfriars' bridge. In 1768 he succeeded, by purchase, his father in the office of city architect. In 1770 he commenced the rebuilding of New- gate, and distinguished himself by the cha- racteristic appropriateness of its exterior. He also built the Giltspur Street Prison, St Luke's Hospital — a very creditable work,— and the front to the Guildhall. He was one of the foundation members of the Royal Academy, and in 1798 was appointed the professor of architecture, but he resigned the office in 1805, having never fulfilled his duty as lecturer. He was also a poor con- tributor to the Academy Exhibitions. He sent architectural designs in 1770 and 1771 ; again in 1785 and 1795. He next sent, in 1798 and 1800, small chalk portraits — pro- bably part of his work published in 1808- 14 — 72 portraits in profile of eminent men. drawn from the life, which he said had formed a great relaxation from his severer studies. These portraits are slightly sketched in chalk, life-like, but exagger- ated, wanting in drawing and refinement. In 1815 he resigned his office of city sur- veyor, and after a lingering illness of many years, died January 14, 1825, in his 84tn year, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathe- dral. He was the last survivor of the foundation members of the Royal Aca- demy.

DANCE, Nathaniel, R.A. (afterwards Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, Bart.), por- trait and subject painter. Brother of the above. He was born in 1734, and, brought up to art, studied for some years under Frank Hayman ; afterwards he spent eight or nine years in Italy, and while there, hopelessly enamoured of Angelica Kauff- mann, followed her, it is said, from place to place. He was in 1761 a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and in 1763 sent to their exhibition from Rome his ' Dido and Mneas.' On his return to England he commenced portrait painting, occasionally producing an Historical subject. In 1768 he was one of the foundation mem- bers of the Royal Academy, and contributed to the first exhibition some good portraits, including two fine whole-lengths of George III. and his young Queen, now at Up Park,

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