Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/More, Jacob

551802Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 38 — More, Jacob1894Robert Edmund Graves

MORE, JACOB (1740–1793), landscape-painter, known as 'More of Rome,' was born at Edinburgh in 1740. He received his artistic training at Runciman's School of Design, and in 1771 exhibited with the Incorporated Society of Artists a 'View of Corehouse Linn, on the River Clyde,' a 'View from Dunbar Castle,' and four other landscapes. In 1773 he went to Italy, and settled in Rome, where he gained a considerable reputation, and was employed by Prince Borghese in the decoration of his villa near the Porta Pinciana. From Rome he sent to the exhibition of the Society of Artists in 1775 a 'View of the Lake of Albano,' and three other Italian landscapes; and in 1777 a 'View of the Lake of Nemi.' In 1783 he first exhibited at the Royal Academy, sending a 'View of the Cascade at Terni' and a 'View of the Campagna from Tivoli.' In 1784 he sent 'The Great Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, in which the elder Pliny lost his life;' in 1785, and again in 1786, two landscapes; in 1788, 'The Deluge' and 'An Eruption of Mount Etna;' and in 1789, two landscapes. His style was founded chiefly on that of Claude, and his paintings are mentioned with praise in Goethe's 'Winkelmann und sein Jahrhundert,' 1805, but they are much overrated when placed in comparison with the works of that master. Some of his landscapes were engraved for him in Rome, and the plates were brought to London after his death, and sold with his remaining works by auction at Christie's in 1796. Examples of his work are in the Villa Borghese at Rome and in the Hope collection at Deepdene, Dorking. His portrait, painted by himself, is in the Uffizi Gallery at Florence. More died at Rome, of a bilious fever, shortly before November 1793. His property passed to a Mr. Moore of New Street, Covent Garden.

[Gent. Mag. 1793, ii. 1055; Edwards's Anecdotes of Painters, 1808, p. 213; Nagler's Künstler-Lexikon, 1835-52, ix. 443; Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, ed. Graves and Armstrong, 1886-9, ii. 170; Catalogues of the Exhibitions of the Royal Incorporated Society of Artists, 1771-7; Royal Academy Exhibition Catalogues, 1783-9.]