Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/459

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age of 25 he had been able to establish himself in a house in Harley Street. Thence he removed to Hammersmith, and follow- ing his favourite Thames, he took a small house at Twickenham, where he lived for several years, having at the latter part of the time a house also in Queen Anne Street, Marylebone. Thrifty, shrewd in his deal- ings, of untiring industry, he was making money fast, and unsocial, without any inducements to expense, it accumulated.. He has been called avaricious, and seeking only his own glorification in his wealth. But he devoted it to art, which had been his only pursuit and happiness in life.

He had long been accustomed to absent himself at intervals, and without having been missed, his friends learnt suddenly that the great painter was lying dead at a small cottage on the banks of the Thames, just above Battersea Bridge. In this house tie had been accustomed to lodge occasion- ally, and had formed a connexion, under the assumed name of Brooks, with the female who kept it. Here his last illness seized him, ana here he died on December 19, 1851. His body was conveyed to his house in Queen Anne Street, and was buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. By his will, after leaving some small an- nuities to his relations, he gave the bulk of his property, sworn as under 140,0002. , for the Denefit of art and artists ; but his will, drawn by himself, was so unskilfully framed and so va^ue, that after four years' litiga- tion, by the advice of the Lord Chancellor. a compromise was arranged. The Royal Academy received 20,000/., his pictures and drawings were assigned to the National Gal- lery, his real estate to the heir-at-law, and his large collection of prints, with other pro- perty, to the next of kin. The Academy set aside the sum adjudged to them as ' The Turner Fund,' for the relief of distressed artists, not members of their body, and to perpetuate his memory founded a * Turner* gold medal to be awarded biennially in competition for the best landscape painting.

TURNER, William (known as ' Turner of Oxford'), water-colour painter. Was born at Blackbourtnn, Oxfordshire, Novem- ber 12, 1789. Losing his father at an early age, he was brought up by an uncle, who> observing his love for drawing, sent him to London and apprenticed him to John Varley, with whom he made fair progress. After leaving Varley, he settled at Oxford, where he was chiefly employed as a teacher, finding pupils among trie members of the university and the neighbouring families. He first exhibited in 1808, and in 1809 was elected a member of the Water-Colour Society. Residing during his whole career in Oxford, many of his subjects were found in that city and its suburbs. But he also painted the moor and down scenery of 438

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England, introducing groups of sheep and cattle, as well as the mountain scenery of Wales and Scotland. He was a close and industrious student of nature, indefatigable in his work ; his drawings, possessing many good qualites, carefully coloured and finished, are yet deficient in composition and art treatment, and his works failed to gain popularity. He married in 1824, and was for 54 years an exhibitor of his works. He died, childless, August 7, 1862, in his 73rd year, and was buried at Shipton-on- Cherwell, near Woodstock. His numerous drawings and sketches were sold by auction in March 1863.

TURNERELLI, Peter, sculptor. Was born the latter end of 1774 at Belfast. His father was an Italian modeller, and resided many years in Dublin ; his mother a native of that city. He was intended for the priesthood, out a love of art prevailed. He came to London at the age of 18, was placed with M. Chenu, an able artist, and admitted a student of the Royal Academy. His works early attracted notice and employment. He was engaged to teach the Princess of Wales, and also many of the nobility, modelling in wax, and he exhibited the infant Princess Charlotte in wax, which was much admired. In 1810 George III. sat to him for his bust, and the work was so popular that he made no less than 80 copies of it in marble. He was appointed sculptor to the Queen, and also to the Princess of Wales. Some of the most dis- tinguished men of the day were his sitters, and in 1813, when he visited the continent, Louis XVIII. sat to him for his bust. He executed several monumental works: Sir John Moore, in Canterbury Cathedral ; Admiral Sir John Hope, in Westminster Abbey ; and Burns at his plough, for the Dumfries monument. He died, after a few hours' illness, in Newman Street, March 20, 1839, leaving a wife and family in great destitution. He had the reputation of being a charming amateur singer.

TWEEDIE, William MTMZiEB,portrait painter. Was born in Glasgow in 1826, and was the son of a naval officer in Her Ma- jesty's service. He was himself intended for the Navy, but shewed such talent for portraiture when only six years old, that his father was persuaded to allow him to study art instead! He entered the Edinburgh Academy at 16 and remained there four years, gaining during his studentship the prize for the best copy of Etty's picture of

  • The Combat. ' At twenty years of age he

came to London and became a student of the Royal Academy, and afterwards studied for three years in Paris, under Couture the painter. His first exhibited picture was a naif- length portrait in oil, which was hung at the Royal Scottish Academy when he was only 17 years of age. from 1858,