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• BROWN, Jon*,portrait painter. Born at Edinburgh 1752. He was the son of a jeweller and watchmaker. He received a good education, was early destined for an artist, and was a pupil of Alexander Runciman. In 1771 he went to Italy ; and at Rome, from whence he sent two drawings to the Academy Exhibition in 1774, became acquainted with Mr. Townley and Sir William Young, who were pleased with his drawings; and he accompanied them to Sicily, where he made many highly- finished pen drawings of the antiquities. He was absent above 10 years, and on his return to Edinburgh was much esteemed for his taste and acquirements. He ex- hibited a portrait and a frame of miniatures at the Academy in 1786, and the same year came to London and engaged in portraiture. He excelled in small portraits in pencil, which were always correct in drawing and character ; but his health had Buffered by his incessant application, and taking a sea-voyage to Scotland, he was sea -sick, lay without attention in his hammock, and on landing at Leith died there on September 5, 1787. He was a great enthusiast for his art. His works were marked by delicacy and taste. He left some highly - finished portraits in pencil, many sketches of Italian scenery in the same manner, and one or two care- ful etchings. He was also passionately fond of music, and his * Letters on the Poetry and Music of the Italian Opera ' were published in 1789 for the benefit of his widow, edited by Lord Monboddo. His friend, Alexander Runciman, about 1782 painted his portrait grouped with his own.
- BROWN, Launoelot (called * Capability
Brown')* architect. He was born in 1715 at Kirkhall, Northumberland, and was brought up in the kitchen-gardens at Stowe. He came into Lord Cobham's service when a lad, in 1737, and was employed in the gardens till 1750, and afterwards from 1751 at Croome Court, Worcestershire, where he built the mansion and offices and a Gothic church. He made additions to Burleigh, Northamptonshire.and Broadlands, Hamp- shire; and built Redgrave Hall, Suffolk. But the successful formation of a fine lake for the Duke of Grafton at Wakefield Lodge laid the foundation of his fortunes, and he was largely employed in landscape gardening, ana engaged on the improve- ment of the grounds at Blenheim, Luton, Corsham. Trentham, Nuneham, Caversham, and the formation of Kensington Gardens ; and on the alteration of the mansion and
f rounds at Claremont, at a cost of 100,0001. le held the appointment of head-gardener at Windsor Castle and Hampton Court In 1770 he was chosen high sheriff of Cambridge and Huntingdon, and his son 58
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afterwards represented the latter county. He died suddenly in the street in London, February 6, 1783. Hannah More extols his great conversational powers.
BROWN, Mather, history painter. Was born in America; it is supposed at Boston, and that his father was a loyalist. He came to England young, and was the pupil of Benjamin West, P.R.A., whose pictures were the objects of his intense admiration. He pursued the study of his art with great devotion, and shared the public patronage as a portrait painter. From 1782 up to 1831 he was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy, and at the latter part of the time an occasional contributor to Suffolk Street. He occupied a large house in Cavendish Square, and among his sitters numbered George III. and his queen, and some distinguished officers of both services. He painted Holman and Miss Brunton as ( Romeo' and 'Juliet,' was consulted by Alderman Boydell on his scheme of the ( Shakespeare Gallery' and painted for that collection 'Bolingbroke offering the Crown to Richard II.' He painted some other subjects, which were engraved, the best known of which is ' The Marquis Cornwallis receiving as Hostages the Sons of Tippoo Saib/ fitter in life ne finished a ' Resurrection/ probably one of his best works. He, however, never at- tained excellence, though in the height of his career he occasionally produced a por- trait possessing some good art, and he was prudent then to make some provision for the future. In his latter days he became careless in his dress and person, poverty- stricken in his appearance, and lost to the customs of society. But he continued to labour at his art, though without reward, accumulating historical pictures and por- traits of all classes, amused in happy self- satisfaction in spite of surrounding critics. Leslie, R.A., says that at this period he visited him, and never saw a more miserable display of imbecility. 'I thought/ he adds, ' of Gay's lines —
" In dusty piles his pictures lay, For no one sent the second pay." '
He died in Newman Street at an advanced age, June 1 ? 1831. He held the appoint- ments of principal painter to H. R. H. the Commander-in-Chief and to the Duke of Clarence.
BROWN, Peter, botanical painter. In 1766 he was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and the following year was assisted from the Society's funds. He first exhibited at the Academy in 1770, and was for several years a constant ex- hibitor. He tried several styles of art, but after painting animals, birds, shells, and insects, and even a 'Holy Family' in miniature, he settled down as a flower
