ASH
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years of age, regaining his strength, he established himself as an architect and sur- veyor in the city, where he designed and erected a number of houses. In 1845 he built the new church of St. Barnabas, Homerton, soon after a church at Battersea, and another near Cardigan, followed by a church at Vernham Dean, near Hungerf ord, and the new church at Blackheath. In
1853 he travelled by Paris and Marseilles to Rome, where he passed the first three months of the next year, and then went to Naples for three months, where he suffered from fever, and returned home in 1854, after twelve months' absence. He had from 1845 been a constant exhibitor, chiefly of his executed works, at the Royal Academy, and after his return from Italy exhibited several restorations and works of great interest — in 1850, 'Selections from Pal- ladio ; ' in 1851, ' A Design for rebuilding Blackfriars Bridge and throwing open St. Paul's ; ' in 1858, restorations of ' Ancient Rome ; ' in 1859, * Modern Rome/ the last two published works. He was a good scholar and linguist, a clever archaeologist, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and the writer of several works of art connected with his profession. He was an active fellow of the Institute of British Archi- tects, and a contributor to the ' Dictionary of Architecture' in the course of publication by that body. He also contributed to the 4 Encyclopaedia Britannica' the articles on Vanbrugh, Wren, the Wyatt Family, and William of Wykeham. He died January 18, 1869, and was buried in Hackney churchyard.
ASllTON, Henry, architect. Born in London, 1801. He was a pupil of Sir Robert Smirke, and was afterwards em- ployed by Sir Jeffrey W^attville, and continued in his employ till his death. He was v engaged to erect the stables at Windsor and the kennels at Frogmore. In 1828 he first exhibited a ' Roman Street/ a compo- sition ; in the following year, ' Strada della Chiesa/ a composition ; in 1830, a ' Palla- dian Villa;' and in 1831 a study in the Tudor style ; and then for above 20 years was no longer an exhibitor. He was at this period employed by the King of Holland to erect the Summer Palace at the Hague, and competed, though without success, for some of the most important works of his day. He was engaged as architect for the Victoria Street improvements, and designed the fine thoroughfare connecting Belgravia with the Houses of Parliament, and in
1854 he appears again as an exhibitor, sending a portion of his designs for this street, * Houses on the Scotch Principle ; ' in 1855 he exhibited a design for a mansion he was erecting; and in 1856, 'Sketches for enlarging the National Gallery.' His work possessed many good characteristics
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— good in construction, simple yet tasteful in its design and proportions. Some of his best examples will De found in Victoria Street. He died March 18, 1872.
ASHTON, Matthew, portrait painter. Practised his art between 1725 — 50, both in Ireland and London. His portrait of Boulter, Archbishop of Armagh, is en- graved, and also his portrait of Ambrose Philips, the poet.
AoTLE Y, John, portrait painter. Born at Wem, Shropshire, about 1730. Son of an apothecary, and educated in the village school. Came to London and studied his art under Hudson; then, about 1749, managed to visit Rome, where Northcote tells he was poor enough, for, reluctantly pulling off his coat to follow the general example of a party of artists one hot even- ing, he displayed the back of his waistcoat made of one of his own canvas studies. On his return he practised his art some time in London, and afterwards went as an adven- turer, in 1759, to Dublin, where in about three years he is said to have realised 3000/. by his pencil. On his way home he was tempted to visit the neighbourhood of his birthplace, and, invited to the Knuts- f ord Assembly, Lady Daniell. a rich widow who was present, was so won oy his appear- ance that she contrived to sit to him for her portrait, and to marry him, we are told, within a week. She settled on him the Tabley estate, producing about 1000/. a year, and by her will left him, on the death of her daughter, the Duckingfield estate, worth 5000/. a year. He had much talent, particularly in portraits. His colouring was agreeable, the composition original, drawing fair, but the finish slight, and character and expression weak. His art was, however, spoiled by his fortune. He passed his time in idleness and dissipation, and obtained the name of ' Beau Astley. He soon sold the Tabley property. He made two or three charges on the reversion of the Duckingfield estate, and was just on the point of selling his. final interest when the heiress died, and he came into posses- sion of the whole. He now purchased Schomberg House, Pall Mall, for 5000/., and spent 5000/. more to convert it into three dwellings; the centre, fantastically fitted up, but not without taste, he inha- bited himself, and also a villa on Barnes Terrace. He speculated in a colliery, and sank more money than he raised, and was not more successful in some iron works; but his losses were somewhat replaced by a fortune of 10,000/. he inherited on the death of his brother, a surgeon at Putney, who was accidentally killed. In his youth handsome, vain, and ostentatious, with little sense of morality or propriety; in the decline of life, when not without the appre- hension of indigence, he was disturbed by
