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views and costume. He published ' A Series of Picturesque Scenery in the Holy Land and Syria,' and also ' A Voyage to the Western Coast of Africa/ 1805, illustrated by his own sketches of the natives, but they are rudely drawn and without character. He also painted several pictures in oil.
SPILSBURY, John, mezzo-tint engraver. Born in 1730, he gained a premium from the Society of Arts for a mezzo-tint in 1761 and 1763, and scraped a great number of small plates and portraits after Reynolds and others ; also, after Rubens, the heads of two monks reading from the same book. He designed ana engraved ad vivum; and in this manner there is a mezzo-tint portrait of the Prince of Wales, dated 1757 ; and a second, dated 1764 ; and in the same year portraits of the King and the Queen; also a portrait as large as life, dated 1766, of Arthur Pond's sister, the lady mentioned in the ' Idler,' who rode 1000 miles in 1000 hours. He also en-
S"aved in the dot manner ' A Collection of ems' and some Nonconformists' portraits. In 1770-71-73 he exhibited at the Spring Gardens' Rooms, and was from 1776 to 1784 an exhibitor of portraits at the Royal Academy, and in 1777 contributed two scriptural subjects. About 1782 he was drawing-master at Harrow. His work was cood and careful, but rather black and Hard. He kept a shop in Russell Court, Covent Garden, and styled himself en- graver, and map and print-seller. He died about 1795.
SPILSBURY, Miss Maria, portrait and subject painter. Daughter of the above. Born in London in 1777. She showed a taste for art, to which she de- voted herself. Her best works are peasants and children. She painted ' The Seven Churches of Glendalough ' with a fair in the foreground — and ' Holyeve.' Her at- tempts of a higher class were not successful. In 1792 she was an honorary exhibitor at the Academv, and in 1807 exhibited eight works, which were much praised. Several of her works are engraved, and she herself engraved one, 'A Shepherd's Family.' Many of her works are in Ireland. She was noted for her musical abilities. She married Mr. John Taylor, and died about ten years after in Ireland.
SPOFFORTH, Robert, enqraver. Practised in London towards the end of the 18th century. He was chiefly employed on portrait frontispieces for book illustration. SPOONER, Charles, mezzo-tint en- graver. Was born in the county of Wex- ford, and apprenticed in Dublin to John Brooks. On the invitation of McArdell he came to London when about 23 years of age. He practised in mezzo-tint, and produced several excellent plates after Reynolds, Cotes, Miss Benwell, Chatelaine,
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Rembrandt, Schalken, and Teniers. His best works are dated between 1752-61. He died in London, December 5, 1767, aged about 50, and was buried beside his fellow-pupil and friend, McArdell, at Hampstead. His life was shortened by his habits of roystering intemperance.
SPRY, William, flower painter. He practised in London with much ability, painting both in oil and water-colours. From 1834 to 1847 he was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy, and in the last year contributed a miniature group of flowers m oil.
S P Y E R S , James, landscape painter. Practised in London in the second half of the 18th century, principally painting landscape views. Six views of Hampton Court by him were engraved by J. Jukes, and six views of country mansions were mezzo-tinted by G. Wills.
STACKHOUSE. J., flower painter. He practised in London towards the end of the 18th century, and painted flowers and fruit.
STADLER, Joseph Constantine, engraver. He was a native of Germany. He came to England, and practised in London 1780-1812. He engraved views chiefly in aqua-tint. After De Louther- bourg he engraved * The Fire of London,'
- The Defeat of the Spanish Armada,' and
'Six Views of the Picturesque Scenery of Great Britain.' After Farington, R.A., he etched for Alderman Boydell views of London Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Black- friar's Bridge, Somerset Place, Adelphi; also numerous views illustrating Coombe's ' History of the River Thames/ published 1794.
STAEVARTS, Palamedes, portrait painter. Born 1607 in London, where he practised his art. and died in 1638. Pon- tens engraved Mary Countess of Warwick after him.
STAINES, Robert, engraver. He was born in London, October 21, 1805, and was a pupil of J. C. Edwards, line-engraver, but finished his term of apprenticeship with the Findens, and was afterwards employed by them. He engraved for the
- Literary Souvenir,' the 'Friendship's
Offering,' and the ' Art Journal.' He died October 3. 1849.
STAINIER, R., engraver. Practised in London, in the dot manner, in the latter part of the 18th century. He was chiefly employed on portraits. He engraved 'Cleopatra,' after Wheatley, R.A., 1788; 4 Linaor and Clara,' by the same artist. •STANFIELD, William Clarkson, R.A., marine painter. Was born at Sun- « derland, of Irish parentage, in 1794. His if/? 1 father was the author of an 'Essay on Biography,' and esteemed a writer of some reputation. As a boy he chose the marine
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