| BLA | BOD |
sustained. His visions then began to fail him, and in disgust he quitted his cottage, and returning after three years' absence to the Metropolis, lived nearly 17 years in South Molton Street. At Felpham he had illustrated some ballads by Hayley, and he afterwards designed 40 illustrations of Blair's 'Grave,' which were neatly engraved by Schiavonetti, and were greatly admired. Yet at this time he is said to have subsisted with his wife upon a few shillings a week.
His 'Canterbury Pilgrims,' a large sheet engraving, full of character and talent, led to a bitter feud with his friend Stothard, R. A., who painted the same subject, the works of both showing some points of similarity, and both claiming the original conception. He also published his 'Jerusalem,' 'Milton,' and 'Job,' his last and best work, elaborately finished with the graver, and full of fine original thought. His latter days were passed in a back room in Fountain's Court, leading from the Strand. Here, surrounded by his books, his sketches, and manuscripts, his copperplates and his materials, in poverty, but not, it is believed, in want, simple in mind and conduct, he died tranquilly, August 12, 1827, in his 70th year. He was laid in a common grave in the great Bunhill Fields Burial-ground, near the north wall, the more exact situation of which is now lost. His works comprise his engravings, showing a fair knowledge of his art; his water-colour drawings, ranging from mere rude sketches to the most careful and elaborate finish; but all, like his writings, combining occasional ideas of great sweetness with wild and incomprehensible imaginings, incompatible with a sane mind. He early said he 'acted by command. The spirit said to him, Blake, be an artist, and nothing else;' also. 'I wish to do nothing for profit. I wish to live for art. I want nothing whatever. I am quite happy.' And at another time, 'I should be sorry if I had any earthly fame, for whatever natural glory a man has is so much taken from his spiritual glory.' His 'Life,' by Alexander Gilchrist, was pubblished in 1863, and by A. C. Swinburne in 1868.
BLAKE, John, engraver. Brother of the foregoing; drew and engraved for several literary works. He engraved, in 1817, Flaxman's outlines for Hesiod's 'Theogony.'
BLAKE, Nicholas, engraver and designer. Was born in Ireland. Studied in Paris, and resided much there. He was of some celebrity about the middle of the 18th century, and worked both as painter and engraver. He was one of the first who began to design for engravers. He designed and engraved the illustrations for an edition of Pope's works, and for Jonas Hanway's 'Travels in Persia,' published 1753; and jointly with Frank Hayman he designed some prints in illustration of English history, which were published by subscription. He died in Paris. His daughter was living in London in 1809.
BLONDEAU, Peter, medallist. Was, in 1649, invited to London from Paris, and upon a favourable report upon his improved method of coining by a committee of the Mint was appointed by the Council of State to coin their money; but, it is stated by Ruding, the opposition of the moneyers of the Mint for some time impeded his progress, and eventually succeeded in driving him out of the country. On the Restoration he returned, was appointed engineer to the Tower Mint, when he brought into use his new machinery for coining; his occupation here being rather as a machinist than as a medallist. The dies of the so-called Blondeau's pattern pieces of 2s. 6d., 1s., and 6d. were the work of Thomas Simon.
BLYTH, Robert, engraver. Born 1750. Was a pupil of Mortimer, A.R.A., from whose drawings he produced some clever etchings. His works showed great spirit and feeling; but he had lived a loose life, ruined his constitution, and committed suicide on January 19, 1784. His best works are his slight etchings, after Mortimer, and his engravings of 'The Soldier's Courtship,' with a companion plate.
BOADEN, John, portrait painter. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1812. His art was limited to portraiture, occasionally a portrait group or a theatrical portrait in character. His portraits were generally pleasing, but did not rise above respectability in art. His contributions to the Academy fell off after 1825, and his last work was exhibited in 1833; but he exhibited at the Society of British Artists up to 1838, and died in 1839.
BOBBIN, Tim, pseudonym. See Collier, John.
BOCKMAN, R., portrait painter and mezzo-tint engraver. Practised in the first half of the 18th century. There are several portraits by him of the Duke of Cumberand, and a life-size half-length of Admiral Russell, Earl of Orford, in the Gallery of Greenwich Hospital; also copies in half-length after Kneller of the naval heroes of the early part of Queen Anne's reign, in the Hampton Court Gallery. He also engraved in mezzo-tint portraits after Vanloo, Dahl, Worsdale; and, after his own painting, 'St. Dunstan holding the Devil with a pair of Tongs by the Nose.' His widow applied to the Society of Artists for relief in 1769.
BODDINGTON, Henry John, landscape painter. He was born in 1811, and was a member of the 'Williams Family,' of
