Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/504

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ability, and the beauty and finish of his work.

WOOD, William, miniature painter. Practised in London, and was distinguish- ed for his correct drawing, taste, ana har- mony of colour. From 1791 he exhibited at the Royal Academy, miniatures, with

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traits, and gaming rank in his profession, was popular as a painter of compositions, usually a few figures, from the lighter class of subjects, poetry and tales. These he painted with some grace, but little power, and only occasionally finding a purchaser,

at the Royal Academy, miniatures, with was obliged to depend upon portraiture, in occasionally a portrait drawing, contribute which he was less qualified to succeed. In

1800 he was elected an associate, and then exhibited * Charles I. in the Hands of his

ing for the last time in 1807. He pro- moted the establishment, in 1808, of the short-lived Society of Associated Artists in Water-Colours, and was the Society's president. He published, 1808, * An Essay on National and Sepulchral Monuments.' Fond of the study of nature, he planned the laying out of parks and grounds, and made many sketches from nature of great merit. He improved the stability of col- ours on ivory. Died at his house in Golden Square, November 15, 1809, aged 41.

WOODCOCK, Robert, marine painter. He was born of a good family, and, having a genius for painting, resigned an office under the Government to aevote himself to art. He began to study in 1723, and. copying in oil after Vandevelde, he acquired a technical knowledge, and adopting art as his profession, made great progress, con- fining himself to marine subjects. He had also a talent for music, and was not only a good performer, but composed some pieces, which were published. He died of gout, in his 37th year, April 10, 1728, and was buried at Chelsea.

WOODFIELD, Charles, topographical landscape painter. Was a pupil of Isaac Fuller. He painted topographical subjects, buildings, antiquities, and views. He was idle and often wanted necessaries, but lived to the age of 75 years, dying in 1724.

WOODFORDE, Samuel, R.A.. history painter. Born in 1764, at Castle Cary, Somersetshire, of a respectable family, long settled in that county. Was well educated, and, seized with an early passion for draw- ing, he was sent up to London, and in 1782 admitted a student in the schools of the Academy, where he by diligence obtained a power of drawing. In 1785 he was assisted to visit Italy. Residing some time in Rome, he was persevering in his studies, but being of a slow nature, his hard work was not rewarded by much progress. After seeing Florence and other of the art cities, and tarrying to studv the works of the great colourists at Venice, he made his way oack to England in 1791. He had sent some works from Rome for exhibition at the Academy, and he now exhibited some Roman landscapes, followed by, in 1793, 'Caractacus before Claudius' some por- traits, and classic subjects. He was then employed bv Boydell on the Shakespeare Gallery, and painted the forest scene from ' Titus Andronicus/ which was engraved by Anker Smith. He also painted some por-

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Army, has an Interview with his Children/ engraved by W. Sharp. In 1807 he be- came a full member of the Academy. He managed by economy to secure an inde- pendence, and in the spring of 1815 married, and shortly afterwards set off again for Italy, probably with the intention to settle there Aut was taken ill between Bologna and Ferrara, and died of inflammatory fever at the latter city, after a few days' illness, July 27, 1817, in his 54th year. Among his principal works are, * Calypso lamenting the Departure of Ulysses/ 1810 ;

  • Diana and her Nymphs/ 1814. His works

possess the correctness of drawing and composition due to his laborious studies, but the genius to become more than a respectable artist was not given to him. His colouring was good, and m this respect his water-colour drawings are in advance of his contemporaries.

WOODHOUSE, John Thomas, M.D., amateur. He was seuior Fellow of Gon- ville and Caius College, Cambridge, and though he took his degree in medicine, he never practised. He was chiefly occupied in painting portraits, in which, as an amateur, he greatly excelled, painting the likenesses of nis many friends and distin- guished contemporaries. He died at his college, March 20, 1845, aged 65.

WOODING, T., line-engraver. Prac- tised towards the end of the 18th century, and produced works of some merit. William Bromley, A.E., was his pupil.

WOODMAN, Richard, engraver. Born in London, he practised there in the latter part of the 18th century, in the dot manner. His last works are dated about 1810. Among his best works are, 'The Choice of Penelope/ after Riley, and ' Children at Play/ after Poussin.

WOODMAN, Richard, engraver and draftsman. Was the son of the above, born in London, July 1, 1784, and was placed under Meadows, a stipple engraver. After leaving him, he was employed to colour, which he did with great ability, the engraved imitations of William Westall's drawings. In 1808 he was engaged by Wedgwood to superintend the engraving department of his works, but he soon re- linquished that employment, and returning to London, he undertook the engraving of some large hunting and sporting plates, and afterwards engraved for Knight's *Por-

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