Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/327

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NAS

caricaturists of the day. He died at his seat, East Oowes Castle, Isle of Wight, a mansion he had built for himself, May 13, 1835, in his 83rd year. He published, in 1825, ' Illustrations of the Palace at Brigh- ton/ His collections of books, prints, and drawings were sold by auction.

NASMYTH, Alexander, landscape painter. Born at Edinburgh in 1758, and educated there. . He came early in life to London, and commenced. art as the pupil of Allan Ramsay. He then visited Italy, where he studied during several years both historical and landscape painting ; but his inclination led him imperceptibly to land- scape, and he filled his folio with elaborate drawings of the picturesque scenery of the country. On his return he settled m Edin- burgh and commenced practice as a portrait painter. He had many distinguished men as his sitters ; but was more successful in his landscapes, and eventually abandoned

Eortraiture. He was an occasional exhi- itor of Scotch landscape scenery at the Royal Academy, London, between 1813 and 1826. Assisted by his family, he painted the stock scenery for the theatre at Glasgow. He devoted also much of his time to teaching, and adopted landscape gardening as a profitable part of his profes- sion. His landscapes are carefully coloured and finished, but are timid and wanting in the true characteristics of art and genius. He published, in 1822, 16 views of places described by the author of Waverley. He was a member of the original Society of Scottish Artists, and an Associate of the Royal Institution. The Society of Arts possess a large ' River Scene ' by him. He died at York Place, Edinburgh, April 10, 1840. ajed 82.

NASMYTH, Patrick, landscape paint- er. Son of the foregoing. Was born in Edinburgh, January 7, 1787. Christened Peter, he persisted in calling himself Patrick, and is known by that name. He had an early love of nature, and played truant to wander in sunny fields, and attempt to sketch from the surrounding scenery. An early injury compelled him to learn the use of his left hand in painting, and an illness resulted in deafness. He came to London at the age of 20, and his talents were soon appreciated. In 1809 he exhibited his first picture at the Royal Academy, and was from that time an occasional exhibitor up to 1830. He became a member of the Society of British Artists on its foundation in 1824, and was an exhibitor till his death. His first exhibited works were chiefly from Scotch scenery ; his latter works from the domestic scenery of the English counties. In his art he imitated the Dutch school, painting our lane scenes, hedgerows, village- suburbs, and commons, and chosing the dwarfed oak in preference to other trees. 306

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His manner has a tendency to meannpu, his foliage is over-detailed, nis work black in the shadows. Adopting a low tone, his skies looked brilliant. He painted English nature in her simplest moods, without any attempt at the poetry of art, yet with great force and truth. His loss of hearing threw him too much on his own resources, and in his solitude he was prone to indulge in ex- cess. H is constitution became undermined, and catching cold in sketching, when scarcely recovered from influenza, his weak frame gave way. He died at Lambeth, where he had for some time lodged, August 17, 1831, during a thunder storm which, at his own request, he had been raised in his bed to contemplate. He was buried at St. Mary's Church, and the Scottish artists in Lonaon placed a gravestone over him.

NASON, R., portrait painter. He ac- companied Charles II. to England in 1660, and practised in the latter half of the 17th century. He painted a portrait of Charles II., which is engraved by Van Dalen, and some other portraits, which are exquisite in finish.

NATTER, Lawrence, gem engraver. Born at Biberach, Suabia. Studied in Italy, and afterwards resided several years in England. In 1743 he was in Denmark, and in 1744 he went to Holland to make a medal for the Prince of Orange. He pub- lished in London, in 1755, a treatise com- paring the antique with the modern method of engraving precious stones. He held the office of engraver to the Mint, and was a fellow of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries. He died December 27, 1763, at St. Petersburg, whither he had gone the preceding year on the invitation of the empress. There is a medal of Sir Robert Walpole by him.

NATTES, John Claude, water-colour painter. Was born in England about 1765, and was a pupil of Hugh Deane. An early draftsman of the water-colour school, his works were mostly connected with topo- graphy, on which his art was founded. Be- tween 1797 and 1800 he travelled in Scotland, making the drawings which he published in 1804 under the title of ' Scotia Depicta.' In 1802 he published ' Hibemia Depicta ; ' in 1805, ' Select views of Bath, Bristol, Malvern, Cheltenham, and Wey- mouth;' and in 1806, 'Bath Illustrated.' He was one of the foundation members of the Water-Colour Society in 1804, but was expelled in 1807 for having exhibited, in his own name, drawings not by his own hand, to increase his share of the profits of the exhibition. At the Academy he was an exhibitor from 1782 to 1804, and from 1807 to 1814, when he exhibited for the last time. His early contributions were almost exclusively views in Italy, but later Scotch and English. He drew in a loose