Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/208

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published six historical subjects from the Kensington Palace collection, and, in three large plates, Ruben's 'Ceiling of the Banqueting House,' also several portraits and small plates for books. He died in England in 1733, aged 72. He left a son, who practised as an engraver. His own works were executed entirely with the graver in a cold, neat style, weak in drawing and expression.

GRIEVE, John Henderson, scene painter. His family had been distinguished in the art from the time of De Louther- bourg, and he formed another distinguished link. He died of apoplexy, April 16, 1845, aged 75.

GRIEVE, William, scene painter. Son of the above. He was born m London in 1800, and as a boy began his career in the scene-loft at Drury Lane Theatre, and both at that house and at the Italian Opera House he made great improvements in scenic effects and arrangements. He raised the reputation of the Opera House by his scenery. The ballet of * Masamello ' was greatly indebted for its success to his inventive talent ; and on the performance of * Robert le Diable' in 1832, the audience called him before the curtain — an unprece- dented event — to receive their approving testimony to his success. His moonlights were excellent and his delusions marvellous in effect. He died at South Lambeth, October 24, 1844, aged 44 He left some small pictures and water-colour drawings, but his art shone only on the stage.

GRIFFIER, John (called 'Old 6116160, landscape painter. He was born at Amsterdam 1645, and apprenticed to a carpenter, but learning to paint on earth- enware, he was allowed to follow his own inclination, and placed himself with a flower painter. He came to England about 1667, and his landscapes were much es- teemed. His colour and execution are good, his figures well introduced, and, with nis cattle, correctly drawn. Excelling in his views on the Thames, he purchased a vessel, in which his whole family passed their time between Gravesend and Windsor. Having amassed some money, he sailed in his vessel from Rotterdam, was wrecked, and lost all his possessions, and but for a few guineas his daughter had sewed up into her girdle, would have been reduced to beggary. Then, after 10 or 12 years' stay, returning to England, he took a house on Millbank, where he died in 1718. His collection was sold by auction after his death. He etched several small plates of birds and animals after Barlow, and five large half-sheet plates of birds.

GRIFFIER, Robert, marine painter. Son of the foregoing. Was born in London in 1688, bred under his father, and made good progress in art He painted river

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and marine subjects, and in some of hi 8 sketches excelled his father. His colour and drawing was very good. When, after his shipwreck, his father returned to London, he went to Amsterdam, where he settled, and died at a good old age.

GRIFFIER, John, landscape painter. Younger son of 'Old Grittier.' He was noted for his great power as a copyist of Claude. He practised in London as a landscape painter, and died in Pall Mall about 17*30

• GRIFFITH, Moses, topographical draftsman. He was born in Carmarthen- shire, April 6, 1749, and became the servant of Pennant, the antiquarian. Travelling with his master he picked up some know- ledge of drawing, and, improved by study in the school of the Artists' Society in 1771, was ultimately employed by his master, first as draftsman, later as an engraver also. He made some of the drawings for Pennant's * Journey from Chester to Lon- don,' 1782, and ornamented the margins of his 'Tour in Wales,' 2nd volume. His works have little art merit. They are washed in rather heavily with Indian ink. and very slightly tinted. He accompanied his master on all his journeys, and on receiving his 'manumission' retired to Wales, where he published, in 1801, some etchings, his first attempts, as supplemental plates to the ' Tour in Wales.' He was living in 1809.

GRIGNION, Charles, portrait and history painter. He was oorn in 1754, in Russell Street, Covent Garden, where his father was a watchmaker of some celebrity. Was pupil of Cipriani and a student of the Royal Academy. At 1.5 he gained the Society of Arts' premium for a drawing from the human figure, and in 1776 the Academy gold medal for his ' Judgment of Hercules.' In 1782 he was sent to Rome with the Academy pension. He painted at Rome a large picture of the Death of Captain Cook/ and made a number of drawings, some of which were engraved, and was residing in Rome in 1794. Later in life he devoted himself to landscape and

Sroduced some works of much excellence. iord Nelson sat to him for his portrait at Palermo in 1798. On the French entering Rome he was compelled to leave, and retired to Leghorn, where he died of a bilious fever, November 4, 1804. and was buried in the ground of the English Factory there. He was an exhibitor of portraits and classic subjects at the Academy from 1770 to 1784. He purchased several fine pictures in Italy during the French invasion, and sent them to London, among others the Altieri Claudes. Two drawings by him, ' A Roman Assassination 'and 'A Dancing Group ' were engraved.. GRIGNION, Reynolds, engraver. He

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