A biographical and critical dictionary of recent and living painters and engravers / by Henry Ottley.

  • Henry Ottley
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical and critical dictionary of recent and living painters and engravers / by Henry Ottley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    61/202 page 51
    dela] PAINTERS AND ENGRAVERS. Delaroclie, who was never satisfied with anything lie did, but always saw improvement possible, so far from being chagrined at this calamity, received the news with apparent indifference, nay almost with satisfaction, congratulating himself on the opportunity which would thus be offered him ot painting it over again, and painting it better. But he was not destined to carry out this in- tention. An illness little foreseen, and the gravity of which he alone was aware of, seized him, whilst at work upon a picture of 4 The Death of the Virgin,’ and he died with calm resignation on the 4th November, 1856. The Hemicycle was after his death restored by his friend Robert Fleury. As the head of a school Delaroclie has exercised an important influence upon the Art, not of his own country alone, many English and other artists having been amongst his pupils. Of French artists who studied under him may be named Hebert, Couture, Gendron, Cavalier, Gc- rome, &c. Besides historical pictures, Delaroclie painted several portraits, amongst others, those of M. Guizot, M. Thiers, Carl Vernct, Horace Vernet, Lamartine, Robert Fleury, and himself; the last named executed in crayon in the year 1838, has been engraved by Aristedes Louis. HELEN, John Joseph, born 1776, died 1811, a historical and portrait painter of Antwerp, where is his 4 Simeon in the Temple.’ DELVAUX, Ferdinand, a Belgian painter of considerable merit and promise, was born at Brus- sels in 1782, and became a pupil of Andrew Lens. He visited Italy twice, on liis second return to his native country in 1815, he was seized with fever and died. The Church of the Minimes in Brussels contains a Martyrdom of St. Stephen, painted by him in 1809, a production which dis- plays many of the characteristics of the grand historical style. In the Royal Museum in the same city are an interior of the Cloisters of the Monks of Chartreux at Rome, and the interior of a Convent in Rome. DELVAUX, Edward, born at Brussels in 1806. In the Brussels Museum are three land- scapes by him, one of which, a landscape with figures and cattle, obtained tiie prize in 1827. DENOTER, P. F., a landscape painter, born at William in 1779 ; died in 1812. In the Mu- seum at Brussels are three views painted by him, one in the neighbourhood of Bruges, and the other two in Ghent. DERBY, William, was born at Birmingham on the 10th of January, 1786. Showing early a taste for the arts, he acquired the first rudiments of draw- ing under the able tuition of Mr. Joseph Barker, of Birmingham, the father of the accomplished J. V. Barker. In 1808 Mr. Derby came to London, where he was engaged on a work far below the scope of his powers, viz., ‘ The Stafford Gallery,’ which he completed in a manner which called forth the frequent commendations of the superintendent o f the work. H e next pursue d portrait and miniature painting; occasionally making water-colour copies of fine pictures, until 1825, when the artist Hil- ton relinquished making the drawings for Lodge’s ‘ Portraits of Illustrious Persons,’ and Mr. Derby was elected his successor, which hon- ourable but arduous appointment lie occupied till the completion of the work. His drawings for it are considered the most accurate and beautiful of the series, and when they occur for sale com- mand good prices. He was also commis- d 2 I sioned by the Earl of Derby to make watei colour drawings after the portraits of his lord- ship’s ancestors, from the reign of Henry VII. to his own time, which was to be found in differ- ent collections throughout the country ; and by LordLansdowne, to make a beautiful water-colour copy of Landseers Return from the High- lands.’ Besides his peculiar talent as a copyist, ho as an original artist, possessed powers of con- siderable range in oil and water colour painting, in portrait, still life, &c. He died on the 1st of January, 1847. DEROI, (J. B.), a painter of landscape and cattle, born at Brussels, in 1759, died in 1839. In the Museum at Brussels are two cattle pieces by his hand. DESANGES, Louis William, is the great grandson of a French marquis, who, like others of the French noblesse, was compelled by political troubles to seek a home in England, and where he became naturalized. The subject of our notice was born in London in 1822, and at the age of six was taken by his parents to Flo- rence, where he received his first drawing-lesson, the family remaining there for two years. In 1831 lie returned to England, and was sent to Hazlewood School at Birmingham, whence, at the expiration of a year, he was transferred to Flail Place School, Bexley, Kent, where he remained six years, continuing his drawing studies under the direction of Mr. James Stone, son of the principal, and a pupil of John Parley. To Mr. Stone the late A. L. Egg, R.A., and many young men who have since attained high rank in the military and naval service of the country were also indebted for their early instruction in draw- ing. At the age of sixteen Mr. Desanges went to France, and studied for a short time under Grobon, at Lyons. After again visiting Florence, and extending this time his travels to Rome and Naples, he returned to England in 1815. It was about this period that the artists of our country were called upon to compete for the honour of decorating the newly-erected Houses of Parlia- ment with pictures ; Mr. Desanges cast in his lot with the others, by sending an oil-painting to Westminster Hall, but lie failed to secure a prize. In 1847 a number of artists, considering that a fair opportunity for the exhibition of their works was not allowed to them at the Royal Academy and other long-established galleries, tried the ex- periment of opening, first at the Egyptian Hall, and secondly at the Chinese Gallery, Knights- bridge, a Free Art-Exhibition, which, after three or four seasons, was removed to Portland Street, and took the successive titles of the 4 Portland Gallery,’ and the 4 National Institution.’ This society died a natural death in 1862. During two years of its infancy Mr. Desanges con- tributed to it, sending several pictures which at- tracted favourable notice ; among them 4 The Sleeping Fountain,’ 4 Cupid,’ and 4 Psyche,’ two small compositions, powerful in colour, and very charming in effect; a 4 Bacchante,’ a female head wearing a coronal of grapes and vine-leaves, originally and beautifully treated ; and a far more important work than either-of these, 4 The Ex- communication of Robert, King of France, and his Queen, Bertha, alarge composition, thronged with figures ot great ATariety of character, all powerfully expressive, and many energetic in action. In 1846 Mr. Desanges exhibited at the 61
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3