WRI
WEI
London in 1802. Showed an early ability for art, and was placed under Phillips, R A. In 1831 he was elected an associate of the Water-Colour Society, and in 1842 a mem- ber, and was appointed the secretary in 1845. He was a constant contributor to the Society's exhibition, sending subjects chiefly of a domestic class. In 1835, ' Sun- day Evening ' and ' Cornish Villagers; ' in 1839, « Little Red Riding Hood;? in 1842,
- A Family of Primitive Christians Reading
the Bible" 9 and the ' Orphan; ' in 1845, 4 The Despatch.' He was of weakly con- stitution and succumbed to an attack of in- fluenza, January 14, 1848. His works were sold at Christie's the following March. His labours had not enabled him to do more than modestly provide for the daily wants of his family, and he left a widow and two children without provision.
WRIGHT, In ioo, engraver. Was born in London about 1740, and practised in mezzo-tint. He engraved eight country scenes after Morland, and also after Frank Hals, 1771, and F. Laurie.
WRIGHT, Joseph Michael, portrait painter. Was born in Scotland and was a pupil of Jamesone. He came to England at the age of 16 or 17, and soon gained reputation and employment. Afterwards he went to Italy, where he lived for some time, and in 1648 was elected a member of the Academy of St. Luke, at Florence. He painted many persons of distinction, and his portraits are well known. They are correctly and carefully drawn and finished. The hands are good, the colour very gay and pleasing, and the expression and character well maintained. Among them may be mentioned his * Prince Rupert/ 1662, a life- size portrait, strangely costumed in armour, with a large French perruque; ' Thomas Hobbes, at the Age of 81/ also the Judges, painted for the Corporation of London, which it is said Lely refused to paint uuless they would sit at his studio, and that the commission of 60/. each was on their refusal transferred to Wright. There is also at Hampton Court a good characteristic full- length portrait by nim of Lacy the actor in three characters, 1675. Two similar works, * A Highland Laird/ and * An Irish Tory/ have been much praised. In 1686 he accompanied Roger Palmer, Earl of Castle- maine, as steward of bis household to Italy, and published a pompous account of the Earl's fruitless embassy. On his return he was mortified to find that Kneller had established a pre-eminence which he had before with much difficulty maintained. He died about the year 1700, in James Street, Covent Garden, and is buried in the adjacent church. He gave himself many designations. While at Rome he assumed the name of ( Michael Ritus/ and is so classed in the catalogue of the Ro-
man Academy. At the back of a portrait he has called himself 'Jos. Wick Wrilps Londonensis, Pictor Caroli 2 Regis/ and at times signed himself ' Scotus ' or ' Angl* us.' He is, no doubt, the 'one Wright/ whom Pepys mentions rather contemptu- ously. But he deserved much higher con- sideration. His works possess great merit. His nephew, of the same name, was edu- cated at Rome and afterwards settled in Ireland, where he made a large income as a portrait painter. His fine collection of
ferns and coins was after his death purchased y Sir Hans Sloane.
WRIGHT, Stephen, architect. Prac- tised in the latter half of the 18th cen- tury, and held the office of Master Mason of the King's works. He designed ' The King's Lodge ' in Richmond Park, an edi- fice engraved in Woolfe and Gandon's work; and in 1767, built Clumber for the Duke of Newcastle.
WRIGHT, TnoMAS, portrait painter. Practised in London early in the 18th cen- tury, and was the master of Wilson, R.A. Little is known of him, and he is spoken of as of very slender abilities; but a portrait, in the Bodleian Library, ascribed to him, entitles him to more favourable mention.
WRIGHT, Thomas, engraver and por- trait painter. Was born at Birmingham, Marcn 2, 1792. He was brought to Lon- don by his parents when a child, and before 14 years of age, was apprenticed to Meyer, the engraver. At the close of his appren- ticeship, he joined a; fellow-pupil. Fry, in the completion of engravings etched by Fry, whose name was affixed to them. After four years he left Fry, and engraved portraits, for which he had a peculiar talent. 4 The Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold in a Box at the Theatre/ and some other works by George Dawe, R.A., are engraved by him. He afterwards began to take por- traits both in oil and in miniature; and in 1822, went to St. Petersburg, to engrave
- The Military Gallery/ painted by Dawe,
and the portraits of 'The Royal Family.' He returned to England in 1826, engaged to engrave ' The Beauties of Charles ft./ and found full employment. In 1830 he returned to St. Petersburg to arrange the affairs of George Dawe, who was his brother-in-law; and, with the patronage of the Court, was induced to continue there for 15 years. He painted the portraits of the * Royal Family/ and of many of the nobility, and brought out there * Les Con- teniporains Russes/ a series of portraits drawn and engraved by himself. He made in Russia a good copy of 'The Infant Hercules/ by Reynolds, and on his return to England, issued proposals to publish an engraving of it But he was then almost forgotten in art, and owing to his long ill- ness, the plate remained unfinished. He
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