Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lucy, Charles
LUCY, CHARLES (1814–1873), historical painter, born at Hereford in 1814, was first apprenticed to his uncle, a chemist in that town. Having a predilection for art, he went to Paris, where he became a student in the École des Beaux-Arts under Delaroche. He returned to England and studied at the Royal Academy. He subsequently was employed to go to the Hague and Paris to copy old masters for a Mr. Jones. In 1838 he exhibited a portrait at the Royal Academy in London, being then resident at Hereford, and in 1840 exhibited his first historical painting, ‘The Interview between Milton and Galileo.’ For about sixteen years Lucy lived at Barbizon, near Fontainebleau, where, amid essentially French surroundings, he devoted himself entirely to painting large historical pictures from English, especially puritan, history. At the Westminster Hall competitions his works attracted notice, including his fresco in 1844 of ‘The Roman Empress Agrippina interceding with the Emperor Claudius on behalf of the Family of Caractacus,’ which was awarded a premium of 100l., and in 1845 his cartoon of ‘Religion.’ At the competition in 1847 Lucy obtained a premium of 200l. for his painting of ‘The Departure of the “Primitive Puritans” or “Pilgrim Fathers” to the Coast of America, A.D. 1620.’ This picture he followed up by ‘The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in America,’ exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1848. Lucy painted a very great number of historical works, but his efforts did not meet with the success which they deserved. A picture of ‘Cromwell and his Family listening to Milton playing the Organ at Hampton Court’ was purchased by Mr. Agnew, who had it engraved, and it was subsequently presented by Mr. Graham, M.P., to the Corporation Galleries at Glasgow. A picture of 'Shakespeare before Sir Thomas Luc' was engraved by Robert Graves, A.E. Many of his pictures were purchased for public institutions in America; some are in the collections of the Duke of Manchester, Sir Robert Peel, and others in this country. Engravings from his works are frequently met with. Lucy was instructor for many years at a drawing school in Camden Town. On the foundation of the new British Institution he was elected chairman of the committee. He was commissioned by Sir Joshua Walmesley to paint a series of portraits of eminent men, including Oliver Cromwell, Nelson, Richard Cobden, John Bright, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, Disraeli, Joseph Hume, and Garibaldi. These were bequeathed by Walmesley to the South Kensington Museum. Lucy died at 13 Ladbroke Crescent, Notting Hill, on 19 May 1873, aged 59.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Bryan's Dict. of Painters and Engravers, ed. Graves; Clement and Hutton's Artists of the Nineteenth Century; Art Journal, 1873; Times, 21 May 1873.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.187
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 244 | i | 14 f.e. | Lucy, Charles: for was engraved by Robert Graves, A.E. read has been attributed to him, apparently in error. No such picture is now traceable. |