Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/282

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Royal Academy in 1785, and from tuat year, with few exceptions, was a constant contributor of landscape scenery. He was one of the masters at the Military Academy at Addiscoinbe, and was greatly engaged also in private teaching. He painted land- scapes, introducing cattle, with effects of sunset and morning, of rain and showers, and some views of lake scenery. There are some attempts by him in oil, which he exhibited at the British Institution. ' Cha- racters of Trees ' was published by him in 1799, followed by '.Progressive Lessons sketched from Nature/ He died in London, July 8, 1839, aged 78.

LARGILLIERE, Nicholas, portrait painter. Was born at Paris in 1656, and was intended for commerce, but showing a love for art he studied at Antwerp. At the age of 18 he came to England, and was em- ployed by Lely to repair some of the royal pictures at Windsor. There he gained the notice of Charles II., who commissioned him to paint several pictures, but he soon left England and settled in Paris, where he was patronised by Louis XIV. On the coronation of James II. he was invited to return to London, when he painted the King's portrait in armour, wearing an immense wig, also the Queen's with a pro- fusion of lace and brocade. He afterwards went back again to Paris, and was a third time tempted to come to London by the large prices paid for his works, but the hostility of the artists, it is said, drove him back to Paris, where, having been appointed Director of the Academy and treated with much distinction, he died in 1746. His works are very numerous. They include several portraits of the exiled Stuarts and some large historical works, among which 'The Crucifixion' for the Church of St. Genevieve. Paris, is specially mentioned.

LAROON, Maeoellus (known as ' Old Laroon '), subject pa outer. He was born at the Hague in 1653, and taught by his father, who was an artist. With him he came, when young, to England, where he studied closely from nature, and formed a style of his own. He lived several years in Yorkshire, and on returning to London was employed by Sir Godfrey Kneller as his drapery painter. He drew correctly, and painted history, subject and conversation pieces, and landscape. He had great power in imitating the styles of the great masters, and both engraved in mezzo-tint and etched. He drew and engraved Tempesta's well- known ' Cryes and Habits of London ' and

  • The Coronation Procession of William and

Mary.' There is also a book upon Fencing by him. He resided in Bow Street, Covent Garden, from 1680 till his death, of con- sumption, March 11, 1702, which took place at Richmond, where he was buried.

LA BO ON, Maroellus (known as

4 Captain Laroon ' ), subject painter. Son of the above. He was born m .Bow Street, Covent Garden, April 2, 1679. He early gained power as a rapid draftsman. At the age of 18 he went as a page to Sir Joseph Williamson, one of the plenipo- tentiaries to the Congress at Ryswyck; and from thence travelled in the suite of the Earl of Manchester, the ambassador to Venice, being absent altogether about a year. He had studied both painting and music, and quarrelling with his father, went on the stage as an actor; and at the end of two years turned again to his paint- ing till 1707, when he obtained a com- mission and joined the army in Holland, where he fought at the battle of Oudenarde and the sieges of Ghent and Tournay. In 1710 he was with the army in Spain, served a campaign as deputy quartermaster-gen- eral, marched with the army to Madrid, and, taken prisoner, was detained till 1712. On the Rebellion, in 1715, he was again on service with the royal army at Preston. There he was placed on half-pay till 1724, when he was appointed to a troop of dra- goons, in which he served till 1734. His art is now known by his drawings — music parties, groups in conversation, sometimes mtroducmg portraits and camp sketches. These are freely drawn with a reed pen, with sometimes a slight shadow washed in. About 1740 he was living at Worcester. He died at York, some accounts say Oxford, June 2, 1772. He had a great genius both for painting and music. He sold a collec- tion of his own works, with many of his father's, in 1725.

LATHAM, James, portrait painter. Born in Tipperary. . Studied his art at Antwerp, and practised in Ireland about 1725-40. He was one of the earliest of Ireland's painters, and was greatly esteem- ed. He practised for a time in London. He painted in a pure style, and among his works left an- excellent portrait of Peg Woftington. His portraits are frequently met with in the old Irish mansions, and some of them are engraved. He died in Dublin about 1750.

LATILLA, Eugenio, subject painter. After exhibiting for several years with the Society of British Artists, he was in 1838 elected a member, and in that and the two following years was a large contributor to their exhibitions. In 1842 he went to Rome, and sent from thence a Pfifferaro, ' Abraham dismissing Hagar and Ishmael,' ' Preparing for the Carnival,' and other works. In 1847–48 he was at Florence, and returning to London in 1849, he exhi- bited 'Jane Shore's Penance,' and some others. In 1851 he resigned his mem- bership and went to America, where he died.

LATOMUS, Henry, architect. Prac-

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