BOB
ROB
also for Bulwer's ' Pilgrims of the Rhine/ after Roberts, R.A. ; out some few of the
Elates for these works were completed by im, and to these his name appears. He died March 22, 1865, aged 68.
ROBERTSON, Andrew, miniature painter. He was the son of a cauinet-maker at Aberdeen, where he was born October 14, 1777. A clever lad, he commenced prac- tice as an artist at the age of 14, and for two years was a pupil of Alexander Nas- myth. When only 16 he was director of the concerts at Aberdeen — at the same time teaching drawing, and painting scenes, portraits, miniatures, and anything that offered. In 1794 he took his M.A. degree at the Aberdeen University. He walked up to London in 1801 to see the exhibition, and soon after was noticed by West, then president of the Academy, who sat to him for his portrait, and during his protracted sittings advised him on its art and complete finish, and induced him to stay in London. He entered the schools of the Academy in the same year, and his miniature of West was exhibited at the Academy in 1803, and was noticed from its original manner and powerful colour. By his abilities he gradually made his way. Through West's kindness he painted the Princesses at Windsor, and passing his life in the practice of his art, haa many distin- guished sitters, among them, in 1812, the Prince Regent, and at the peace visited France and Italy. He was appointed miniature painter to the Duke of Sussex". In 1808 he was a member and the secretary of the short-lived Associated Artists in Water-Colours. He continued his early love of music, and became distinguished as an amateur violin player; and he was actively engaged in the business of several charitable institutions, to which he devoted much of his time. He had several pupils, who afterwards were distinguished in minia- ture art, and on his retirement from his profession in 1841, after thirty years' prac- tice, with great reputation, the miniature painters recognised him as the father of their profession and presented him with a
Eiece of plate. He died at Hampstead on December 6, 1845. His miniatures were well finished and carefully drawn, but his power- ful masses of pure colour are somewhat op- posed to due refinement. An elder brother, Archibald, went to New York in 1791, to practise portrait painting, and was after- wards followed by another brother, Alex- ander, a miniature painter and pupil of Shelley.
ROBERTSON, George, landscape painter. Born in London. Was the son of a wine-merchant, and brought up to that business. He early showea an ability for drawing, and studied in Shipley's school, where his drawings, especially of horses, for 362
which he received a Society of Arts' pre- mium in 1761, were much admired. This gained him the notice of Beckford, with whom he travelled in Italy, and studied, chiefly at Rome, during several years. He returned to London about 1770, and though recommended in every way by Beckford, he did not meet with much encouragement, and was induced to make a voyage with him to Jamaica. He painted some views in the island, and, coming back again to England, exhibited them in 1775, with the Incorporated Society of Artists, of which body he was for some time the vice-presi- dent. These views were engraved, and created much interest ; but he received no better encouragement than before. He had married, and by teaching and drawings which he made for the dealers and engrav- ers, he managed to support his family. His health, always failing, was aggravated by a fall from his horse, when he was happily relieved by a small competency left him by an uncle. He gave up his teaching, took a modest house in Newington Butte, and not surviving long, died there, Septem- ber 26, 1788, before attaining his 40th year. He painted a few pictures in oil, aiming at the grand style, and his * St. Martin divid- ing his Cloak,' is in the Vintners' Hall ; but his art was essentially landscape. His com- positions were too scenic ; his trees, though spirited, were fanciful and exuberant in tneir forms, yet his works are by no means without ment, and many of them are en- graved. He etched some of his ewn land- scapes in a very spirited manner.
ROBERTSON, Walter, miniature painter. Was the son of a jeweller in Dublin, and practised there about the end of the 18th century, holding for many years the first place in miniature art in Ireland. He went from Dublin to America in 1793 with Gilbert C Stuart, on his re- turn, and was called 'Irish Robertson.' He gained much notice by his miniature copies of Stuart's portraits. He afterwards went to the East Indies, where he died.
ROBERTSON, Charles, miniature painter. Younger brother of the above. Practised in Dublin about the end of the 18th century, and gained much repute for the extreme neatness of his finish. He came to London about 1806, and in that and several following years exhibited miniatures and miniature groups at the Royal Academy. He excelled in liis female portraits. Was a contributor to the Dublin Exhibition in 1809, and a strenuous sup- porter of the claims of Irish artists for the grant of the charter obtained in 1823.
ROBERTSON, Mrs. J., miniature painter. She was a niece of George Saunders the miniature painter, and her art was well known. She was from 1824 an exhibitor at the Royal Academy, sometimes
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