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Andrew Plimer (baptized 29 December 176329 January 1837) was a British artist, whose brother was Nathaniel Plimer, also a painter of miniatures.
Although originally stated in the ''Dictionary of National Biography'' to have been born in
Andrew Plimer (baptized 29 December 176329 January 1837) was a British artist, whose brother was Nathaniel Plimer, also a painter of miniatures.
Although originally stated in the ''Dictionary of National Biography'' to have been born in Bridgwater, Somerset
Bridgwater is a large historic market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. Its population currently stands at around 41,276 as of 2022. Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country. The town lies alon ...
, he has been more recently established to have been born in Wellington, Shropshire
Wellington is a market town in Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, England. It is situated 4 miles (6 km) northwest of central Telford and 12 miles (19 km) east of Shrewsbury. The summit of The Wrekin lies 3 miles southwest of the town.
The ...
, where he was baptised
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
on 29 December 1763, younger son of Nathaniel Plimer (born 1726), a clockmaker, and his wife, variously named as Mary Elizabeth or Eliza.
He and older brother Nathaniel trained as clockmakers but both ran away from home and travelled for over two years in Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
and the west of England with a troupe of Gypsies
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
. About 1781 they settled in London where Andrew took up work as a manservant to Richard Cosway
Richard Cosway (5 November 1742 – 4 July 1821) was a leading English portrait painter of the Georgian and Regency era, noted for his miniatures. He was a contemporary of John Smart, George Engleheart, William Wood, and Richard Crosse. ...
, who later trained him in portrait painting.
Plimer specialised in portrait miniatures
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques of the miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, and were popular among 16th-century el ...
. His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1768 to 1810 and in 1819. His most famous painting is of the three daughters of Sir John Rushout. His brother Nathaniel Plimer also became a pupil of Cosway and a painter of miniatures.
Plimer married on 21 February 1801, Joanna Louisa, daughter of John and Frances Knight of Wicken, Northamptonshire. The couple had one son who died in infancy and four daughters. He died in Western Cottages, Western Road, Brighton, Sussex, in January 1837 aged 73 and was buried on 4 February at Old Hove.
His wife's younger sister Mary Ann Knight, another miniaturist, was a pupil and friend of Plimer.
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References
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* 1763 births 1837 deaths 18th-century English painters English male painters 19th-century English painters Portrait miniaturists People from Wellington, Shropshire 19th-century English male artists 18th-century English male artists {{England-painter-stub