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anonymously ' Old Court/ a novel in three volumes, which attracted, little attention.
He had gained the esteem of the public and of his profession. A man of many talents, good breeding, gentlemanly man- ner, of business habits, an orator able to express himself well on all occasions, he was, on a vacancy in 1830, elected to the office of president of the Academy, and received the honour of knighthood. He did not, how- ever, receive the same lucrative commissions which had been enjoyed by his predecessors, while his office and ostensible position en- tailed much expense and a great devotion of his time. His presidency had also fallen in troubled times. He had to maintain, against much opposition, the privileges the Academy had so long enjoyed in the pos- session of their rooms at somerset House, and shewed great judgment and ability in the defence of the Academy and of the interests of art, in the widest sense, in his examination before a Parliamentary com- mittee in 1836, most successfully replying to the attacks of the assailants of the Academy.
Among his later works he painted, in 1834-35, the portraits of William IV. and Queen Adelaide, which are now at Windsor Castle; and in 1842 a portrait of Queen Victoria for the Royal Academy. In 1845 an illness, from which he had some time suffered, increased, and he tendered the resignation of his office of president. But on the unanimous solicitation of the Aca- demy he withdrew it. and at the same time accepted a yearly allowance of 3001. voted to mm, to assist him duly to maintain the office, which had much encroached on his means : and to this, 2001. a year was added: from the pension list by the Queen, with reversion to his daughters. His health, however, gradually declined, and his death, accelerated by the sudden death of his wife, took place at Brighton, August 19, 1850. He was of the Roman Catholic faith, and was, at his own request, buried in the Brighton Cemetery. His life was published in I860 by one of his sons.
In his early portraits he shewed much ability, clever, easy action, good drawing and individuality of character, but with a tendency to redness in his flesh tints, which increased in his later works. As he advanced in art, he departed from the sharper and more forcible execution which marked his first portraits, and fell into a method of giving the flesh a soft, unnatural smooth- ness — an over-laboured appearance — and did not fulfil in his later the promise of his earlier years. He was, however, a zealous supporter of the interests of the art and artists of his country, and will be always remembered with sincere respect.
SHELLEY, SAMVWuminiature paint- er. He was born in Whitechapel, about
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1750. He gained a Society of Arts' premium in 1770, and was in a great measure self- instructed in art, copying much from Rey- nolds, upon whom ne is reputed to have found his style. He first appears as an exhibitor at the Royal Academy in 1774. when he was living in Whitechapel, ana was for several years a constant contributor. He worked hard to improve his art, and raised himself to celebrity. He was dis- tinguished for his miniatures, especially of females, they display great finish, taste and elegance, are often treated allegorically and powerfully coloured, though a grey tone predominates. He was one of the original members of the Water-Colour So- ciety, which was planned and founded in his house, and at the first exhibition in 1805, it will give some idea of his art to say that he exhibited, together with miniature por- traits, * Psyche/ 'Nymphs feeding Pegasus/ 'Cupid turned Watchman/ Love's Com- plaint to Time/ ' Cupid solicits New Wings/ and some other; and in the three following years was a large contributor of works of the same character. He made some designs, which are defective in drawing, for book illustration, and engraved some of his own works; and J. R. Smith, Caroline Watson, Bartolozzi and Ryder engraved after him. He died in George Street, Hanover Square, December 22, 1808.
S HEN TON, Henry Chawner, en- graver. Was born at Winchester in 1803, and was a pupil of Charles Warren, whose daughter he married. He practised in the line manner, produced a number of fine works, and was greatly distinguished. Among his more important works are 4 The Stray Kitten/ after Collins, R.A • 'The Loan of a Bite/ Mulready, R.A.; ' Country Cousins/ Redgrave, R. A.; some good plates for Finden's Gallery of British Art, and the Annuals; and an excellent engraving after Cross of ' Richard Cceur de Lion/ for the Art Union. He died suddenly in Camden Town, September 15, 1866, but had not. owing to the failure of his sight, practised his profession for some time previous to his death.
SHENTON, Henry CHAWNER,*cwfofor. Was the eldest son of the foregoing, and the nephew of Luke Clennell. He was a pupil of Behnes, and in his 18th year was admitted a student of the Royal Academy. He studied for a time in Rome, and completed three very ambitious groups. At the West- minster Hall Competition he contributed a colossal group of the ' Burial of the Princes in the Tower/ and to the Royal Academy in 1843, his ' Christ and Mary.' He also modelled a statue of Archbishop Cran ner, and was engaged upon a model of the Cruci- fixion, the act of nailing Christ to the Cross, when he died, after a few days' illness, February 7, 1846. His son, William
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