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and marines in oil In the years 1842-43 and 1844 be was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy. Some views on the Thames by him were published. He died at Plymouth, May 20, 1861, aged 52.
CONEY, John, draftsman and en- graver. Was born at Ratcliff Highway in 1786. He was apprenticed to an architect, but did not follow that profession, though at an early age he distinguished himself as an architectural draftsman. He exhibited a
- View of Lambeth Palace ' at the Academy
in 1805, and continued to exhibit from time to time, always views of old edifices. In 1815 he published his first work, con- sisting of eight views of the exterior and interior of Warwick Castle, drawn and etched by himself . He was soon afterwards engaged in making drawings of the cathe- drals and abbey churches of England, for a new edition of Dugdale's ' Monasticon/ a work which was his chief occupation during 14 years. In 1829 he commenced a series of engravings of ancient cathedrals, hdtels de vule, and other public buildings of celebrity in France, Holland, Germany, and Italy, which he drew on the spot and engraved himself; and in 1831 this was followed by a similar work, only less in size, ' Architectural Beauties of Continental Europe/ also from drawings made on the spot and engraved by himself. He was some time engaged by Cockerell, R.A., to engrave a large general view of Rome; and He also engraved some drawings of the new Law Courts at Westminster for Sir John Soane. He drew in pencil and water-colours, but with all his labours does not appear to have done more than earn a subsistence. He died of an enlargement of the heart, in Leicester Place, Camberwell, August 15, 1833, in his 47th year. He was twice married, but had no children. Some of his drawings were sold by Messrs. Sotheby soon after nis death, ana his view of the * Interior of Milan Cathedral ' was published for the benefit of his widow. His drawings were careful and elaborate, but do not show that accurate knowledge of the details of Gothic tracery which has been ascribed to him.
CONSTABLE, John, R.A., landscape painter. He was born at East Bergholt, in Suffolk, June 11, 1776, and was the son of a miller, the owner of several mills, who had inherited a considerable property. Originally intended for the Church, he soon showed a preference for art. His father then tried to make a miller of him, but after a year left him to follow his own bent He sketched the scenery of his own picturesque neighbourhood, and his desire to pursue art gaining strength, he came to London for the purpose in 1795. But unsettled as to his future he returned home, and the love of art still holding the 94
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mastery, he came again to the Metropolis, and was in 1799 admitted a student of the Royal Academy. Devoting himself then to study, he received some assistance both from Farrington, R. A., and R. R. Reinagle, R.A. He commenced his profession as a portrait painter, then the only profitable branch of art, and for several years occa- sionally painted portraits, and made one or two attempts at history; but his art was landscape. In 1802 he exhibited ' A Land- scape/ nis first; and early gaining a con- sciousness of his own power, resolved upon the necessity of studying nature. He wrote, in 1803, ' I feel now, more than ever, a decided conviction that I shall some time or other make some good pictures; pictures that shall be valuable to posterity, if I do not reap the benefit of them;' and he now finally settled down as the painter of the class of rural scenery in which he was born. In 1816. after a long attachment, he mar- ried. He then resided in Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, but in 1820 his love of nature led him to take also a house at Hampstead. In 1819 he exhibited his laree picture, ' A View on the River Stour,' ana was elected associate; but he did not till 1829, when in his 53rd year, gain his election as a member of the Royal Academy. Leslie, R.A., his friend and graceful bio* grapher, speaks most highly of his works at this period. 'I cannot but think,' he says, 'that they will attain for him, when his merits are fully acknowledged, the praise of having been the most genuine painter of English landscape that nas yet lived; ' yet at the same time he said of himself — and the expressions are character- istic of the man — in reference to the publi- cation of his works, mezzo-tinted by Lucas,
- The painter himself is totally unpopular,
and will be so on this side the grave; the subjects nothing but art, and the buyers wholly ignorant of that.' Again, ' My art flatters nobody by imitation, it courts nobody by smoothness, tickles nobody by petiteness. it is without either fal-de-lal or fiddle-de-dee; how can I then hope to be
Eopular? ' He yearned for the appreciation e so truly merited. His house was filled with his unsold pictures, and courting notice he advertised, 'Mr. Constable? Gallery of Landscapes, by his own hand, is to be seen gratis daily, by an application at his residence.' He was first widely esteemed in France; some of his works purchased by the French made a sensation m Paris, and the king of the French sent him a medal. His health had been for some time uncertain, when on April 1, 1837) he died very suddenly, and the reput- ation he sought m life soon ensued. His admirers purchased his picture of 'The Cornfield/ and presented it to the National Gallery; 'The Valley Farm,Miis father's.
