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and in 1794 was pursuing the study of art in Rome. But he is best known as a writer on art, who illustrated his works by his own etchings. He published in 1816 'An Inquiry into the Origin and Early History of Engraving upon Copper and on Wood; ' in 1818, ' The British Gallery of Pictures,' twenty selected engravings from the Stafford Gallery; in 1823, ' The Italian School of Design/ with etchings by him- self; in 1825, 'Etchings by himself after the Paintings and Sculpture of the Floren- tine School;' in 1826, 'Fac-similes of Rare Etchings by Celebrated Painters of the Italian, German, and Flemish Schools.' Some vigorous pencil and tinted drawings by him, dated 1804, show much mastery of drawing and imagination. He was an honorary exhibitor at the Royal Academy on one occasion only, in 18*23, of a spirited but unfinished drawing, ' The Battle of the Angels,' and was in 1833 appointed keeper of the prints in the British Museum. He died May 26, 1836.
OWEN, Samuel, water-colour painter. Born 1768. His name first appears as the exhibitor of a sea view at the Academy in 1794, followed in 1797 by the * British and Spanish Fleets/ commanded by Sir John Jervis, and by marine subjects in 1799 and 1807. He was a member of the short-lived Society of 'Associated Artists in Water- Colours,' founded in 1808. He chiefly drew marine subjects. His works are carefully coloured and finished, and have much merit. He made the 83 drawings illus- trating Bernard Cooke's 'The Thames,' which have great pictorial interest, the shipping correctly drawn, and well intro- duced. He had long left off the practice of his art, and died at Sunbury, December 8, 1857.
OWEN, The Rev. Edward Pryce, M.A., amateur. He was born in March. 1788, and, a clergyman of the Church of England, made himself known as a painter and etcher. He published, in 1820, ' The Ancient Buildings in Shrewsbury,' and in 1852, 50 etchings of rustic scenery, views in Shrewsbury, cattle, figures, &c. He died at Cheltenham, July 15, 1863.
% OWEN, William, R.A., portrait paint- er. Was the son of a bookseller at Ludlow, where he was born in 1769. He was edu- cated at the grammar school of the town, and gave early indications of his genius by sketching the scenery of its environs. In 1786 he came to London, and was admitted a student of the Academy in 1791. He was at the same time a pupil of Catton, R.A. In the following year he first exhi- bited, sending a portrait, and a home re- membrance, a 'View of Ludford Bridge,' but his inclination was to rustic subjects, and we find him exhibiting, 'The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green,' 'The Village Schoolmistress,' 'The Fortune-teller,' and works of this class. His true art was, however, portraiture, and in this his power increased with the number of his sitters, of whom he had a distinguished list. He was at the height of his practice in 1804, and was in that year elected an associate, and in 1806 a full member of the Academy. In 1810 he was appointed portrait painter to the Prince of Wales, ana in 1813 prin- cipal portrait painter to the Prince as Prince Regent The appointment did not add much to his income, which had now reached 30001. a year. He had for some time resided in Pimlico, and had a studio in Leicester Square, but in 1818 he removed to Bruton Street and united the two. Soon after his health failed; an affection of the spine ensued, and he was confined for several years to his room, and in the latter years unable to work. He died suddenly on February 11, 1825, from the effect of laudanum, taken through the mistake of a chemist's assistant. To his natural genius he added unwearied diligence. His draw- ing was superficial, his painting not without Eower, his colour, with a tendency to be ot and monotonous, was good, his land- scape backgrounds showed feeling and taste, and the truth and character of his portraits made him popular, more especially in his male portraits; but the reputation of his own day is not sustained m ours, and he only holds a good place in the second rank. Some of his subject pictures were engraved and were very popular.
PAAS, Cornelius, engraver. Born in Germany. Came early in life to London, where he practised nearly 40 years. He was appointed engraver to George III. Died in Holborn, January 8, 1806, aged 65.
PACK, Christopher, portrait painter. Was born at Norwich in 1750, the son of a Norwich merchant of an old family. He 318
was engaged there in trade and amused himself by painting. His affairs suffering a reverse, he sought his support from the practice of art. He gained an introduction to Sir Joshua Reynolds, and in 1781 made some good copies from nis works. But his health failed, and he returned to Norwich, where he practised, as a portrait painter,
