POP
Thomas Roberts, he studied art about the middle of the 18th century. He was chiefly known as a devoted copyist of the works of Vernet. But he became High Sheriff of Dublin, and his practice of art was thenceforth rather as an amateur than professional.
POPE, Alexander, miniature painter. Was younger brother of the above. He was born at Cork, and was a student in the Dublin Art School, under West. He practised portrait painting in Cork with success, and occasionally performed on the stage. In 1783 he came to London, and made his appearance in Covent Garden Theatre. He succeeded in tragedy, and was well known for his performance of Othello, Henry the 8th, ana other charac- ters. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1799, and was an occasional exhibitor up to 1821. He died in London in 1835.
POPE, Mrs. Claba Maria, flower and miniature painter. She was a daughter of Jared Leigh (amateur painter), and married at an early age Wheatley, R.A., and exhibited at the Academy, in 1796, a portrait, and for several years after por- traits and little domestic subjects, intro- ducing children; in 1804, ( A Ride in a Wheelbarrow.' About this time, having become a widow in 1801, she married the above Alexander Pope. She painted both miniatures and flowers. Her portrait of Madame Catalani became very popular, but she excelled in her flowers, for which she enjoyed a great reputation. She was a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Academy. She died December 24, 1838, at an advanced age. Her portrait was painted by Hamil- ton, R.A.
PO RDE N. William, architect. He was born at Hull, and was the grandson of Roger Pourden. of York, architect. He showed an early attachment to drawing and poetry, and gaining the notice of Mason, the poet, was introduced by him to James Wyatt, who admitted him into his office, where he studied architecture for some time, and was afterwards the pupil of Samuel P. Cockerell. He then became Secretary to Lord Sheffield, who appointed him paymaster to the 22nd Dragoons, a regiment raised by his lordship in 1770. After the reduction of this regiment he turned again to architecture, and in 1778 exhibited at the Academy designs for a Gothic church, and continued an occasional exhibitor. He was employed by the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, and super- intended the fitting of Westminster Abbey for the Handel Festival in 1785-86, and was afterwards appointed by EarlGrosvenor surveyor of his estates in the metropolis. He built the stables at Brighton for the Prince of Wales, and Eaton Hall, Cheshire, 338
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for Lord Grosvenor, but was, for some cause, superseded in the latter employment. This preyed upon his spirits, ana he died two years after, on September 14, 1822, aged 67. He had a numerous family, all of whom died in infancy except two daughters— the elder married Mr. Kay the architect. The younger, Eleanor Anne, was distinguished by her poetic talent. She published 'Coaur de Leon' in sixteen cantos, with some other poems. She was a great favourite of Flaxman, R.A., who called her his daughter, and became the first wife of Captain Franklin, R.N., the arctic explorer. She died young, in 1826. • PORTER, Sir Robert Kerr, Knt., his- tory painter. Was born at Durham in 1777. His father, descended from an old Irish family, was surgeon to the 6th En- niskillen Dragoons, and, dying young, left his family in very low circumstances, and his mother then retired with them to Edin- burgh. He made early attempts at draw- ing, which induced his mother to take him to West, P.R.A., by whose advice he en- tered the schools of the Royal Academy in 1790. He made rapid progress, and com- menced art on a large scale. In 1793 he painted ' Moses and Aaron,' an altar-piece, commissioned for Shoreditch Church, and, in 1794, presented * Christ stilling the Waves ' to the Roman Catholic Chapel at Portsea, and, 1798, ( St. John Preaching' to St John's College, Cambridge. In 1800 he was employed in scene-painting for the Lyceum Theatre, and then undertook, when only 22 years old, to paint 'The Storming of Seringapatam,' 120 feet long, which contained 700 life-size figures, ana was completed in ten weeks. This pano- ramic effect was exhibited in the Theatre, and was followed by two others of nearly equal magnitude : ' The Siege of Acre ' and ' The Battle of Agincourt/ It has been said of him that 3 he was not a great painter he surely painted great pictures, which seems to be the sum of his art merits. At this time he exhibited some easel pic- tures at the Royal Academy, and of these, in 1801, ' Mr. and Mrs. Harry Johnston as Hamlet and Ophelia.' But he was of a restless as well as a vigorous nature : in 1803 he was appointed a captain in the Westminster Muitia, and hi 1804 was invited to Russia, where he was appointed historical painter to the Emperor. He was employed m the decoration of the Admiralty Hall, and painted several large pictures. He fell in love with the Princess Scherta- koff. but left Russia, travelling through Finland to Sweden, where he was knighted by the King. Here he met General Moore, whom he accompanied to Spain and shared the hardships of the campaign ending with Corunna. He then went again to Russia, where he married his princess, and, com-
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