Arthur William Devis
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Arthur William Devis (10 August 1762 – 11 February 1822) was an English painter of
history painting History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and Bible ...
s and
portraits A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressions are predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this re ...
. He painted portraits and historical subjects, sixty-five of which he exhibited (1779–1821) at the
Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...
. Among his more famous works are a depiction of the ''Death of Nelson'' and a posthumous portrait of Nelson.


Life

Devis was born in London, the nineteenth child of the artist
Arthur Devis Arthur Devis (19 February 1712 – 25 July 1787) was an English artist, half-brother of the painter Anthony Devis (1729–1816), and father of painters Thomas Anthony Devis (1757–1810) and Arthur William Devis (1762–1822). His place in ...
and his wife Elizabeth Faulkner. Devis was the younger brother of the painter Thomas Anthony Devis (1757–1810) and of the schoolmistress and grammarian
Ellin Devis Ellin Devis (December 1746 - February 1820), also known as Eilen Devis or Ellin Davis, was a schoolmistress and author of ''The Accidence'' (1775), a popular eighteenth-century grammar. Biography Ellin Devis was the daughter of Arthur Devis (1 ...
(1746–1820), teacher, among others, of author of Maria Edgeworth and
Frances Burney Frances Burney (13 June 1752 – 6 January 1840), also known as Fanny Burney and later Madame d'Arblay, was an English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. In 1786–1790 she held the post as "Keeper of the Robes" to Charlotte of Mecklen ...
(later novelist Madame d'Arblay). He followed his elder brother Thomas Anthony in becoming a pupil at the Royal Academy Schools in 1774 and like his brother exhibited at the
Free Society of Artists The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established ...
, of which in 1768 their father had become president, and at the Royal Academy. Early on he came to the notice of Sir
Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter, specialising in portraits. John Russell said he was one of the major European painters of the 18th century. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depend ...
. He was appointed draughtsman on the British East India Company's packet ''Antelope'' in a voyage in 1783, under Captain
Henry Wilson Henry Wilson (born Jeremiah Jones Colbath; February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) was an American politician who was the 18th vice president of the United States from 1873 until his death in 1875 and a senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to ...
. In her he was injured in an encounter with Papuans near the Schouten Islands and was then wrecked on the Pelew Islands before proceeding to
Canton Canton may refer to: Administrative division terminology * Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland * Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French Arts and ent ...
and thence to Bengal. During his voyages, the artist received arrow wounds, one of which inflicted permanent injury on his lower jaw. During his time in Bengal, he painted a portrait of
Sir William Jones Sir William Jones (28 September 1746 – 27 April 1794) was a British philologist, a puisne judge on the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal, and a scholar of ancient India. He is particularly known for his proposition of th ...
, at the time a judge in Fort William. The painting now hangs at the British Library. He was back in London by 1795 and is recorded on 21 July 1797 as living at 27 George Street, Hanover Square, where he was insured by the Sun Assurance Office. He is noted for his involvement in the creation of the posthumous cult of
Horatio Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought abo ...
. As she returned from
Trafalgar Trafalgar most often refers to: * Battle of Trafalgar (1805), fought near Cape Trafalgar, Spain * Trafalgar Square, a public space and tourist attraction in London, England It may also refer to: Music * ''Trafalgar'' (album), by the Bee Gees Pl ...
, Devis went out to meet HMS Victory and was present on board the ship during the autopsy of Nelson's body conducted by Dr Beatty, the ship's surgeon. With the help of sketches he took at that time, he painted a heroic ''Death of Nelson'', which proved a sensation. Devis also painted Dr Beatty, and was commissioned by him to produce a half-length painting of Nelson as vice-admiral, which he lent to
Emma Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), generally known as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy men ...
(who later lost it in an accident whilst travelling). Either the original or a copy of this portrait was exhibited at the
Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...
two years after the Battle and many copies were made of it. Lord Howe owned one, and another ended up in the collection of the National Maritime Museum. It also appeared as an engraving in Beatty's published account of Nelson's death. Other work includes a portrait of King George III on horseback, and a range of portraits of admirals and generals, along with historical subjects, such as the Babington Plot and the signing of the
Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter of Freedoms"), commonly called (also ''Magna Charta''; "Great Charter"), is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the ...
. Better known is perhaps his ''Master Simpson'' (1780), a portrait of a small boy, James Alexander Simpson, carrying a dog which has often been copied, imitated and exploited commercially. Despite some success in life, Devis seems often to have had financial difficulties, including imprisonment for debt. By the will of his brother Thomas Anthony Devis, who died in London in 1810, he inherited all Anthony's printed books and prints. Kew, National Archives, Abstract of will, catalogue Reference IR/26/383. Devis himself died in London, at Caroline Street, Bedford Square, of apoplexy in 1822 and was buried in nearby St Giles-in-the-Fields churchyard.


Gallery

File:Captain Henry Wilson AW Devis.png, Captain Henry Wilson () File:Arthur William Devis - Mr. and Mrs. Fraser - Google Art Project.jpg, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser (1785–90) File:The Hon. William Monson and His Wife, Ann Debonnaire LACMA 47.29.16.jpg, The Hon. William Monson and His Wife, Ann Debonnaire () File:Arthur William Devis - Sir Robert Chambers - Google Art Project.jpg, Sir Robert Chambers () File:Arthur William Devis - Lady Chambers - Google Art Project.jpg, Lady Chambers () File:Arthur William Devis - Emily and George Mason - Google Art Project.jpg, Emily and George Mason (1794–95) File:Earl Amherst.JPG, William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst (1803) File:Arthur William Devis - James Duff - Google Art Project.jpg, Portrait of
James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife (29 September 1729 – 1809) was a Scottish aristocrat and Member of Parliament. Heritage James Duff was second son of William Duff, 1st Earl Fife, and Jean Grant (daughter of Sir James Grant of Pluscardine, Baron ...
(1805) File:Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle by Arthur William Devis.jpg, Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle (1809) File:David Ochterlony.jpg, Major-General Sir David Ochterlony (1816) File:John Herbert by Arthur William Devis.jpg, John Herbert File:Martin Farquar Tupper (1810-1889), by Arthur William Devis.jpg,
Martin Farquhar Tupper Martin Farquhar Tupper (17 July 1810 in London – 29 November 1889 in Albury, Surrey) was an English writer, and poet, and the author of '' Proverbial Philosophy''. Early life Martin Farquar was the eldest son of Dr. Martin Tupper (1780–18 ...
File:Arthur William Devis - Portrait of a Gentleman, Possibly William Hickey, and an Indian Servant - Google Art Project.jpg, A Gentleman, possibly William Hickey, and an Indian Servant File:Abba Thulle, King of Pelew cph.3b32617.jpg,
Abba Thulle Abba Thulle was the ibedul, of Koror whom the sailor Henry Wilson and his crew met on their voyage to Palau in 1783. His second son Prince Lee Boo became one of the first people from the Pacific Islands to visit Great Britain, but died six mon ...
, King of Palau. Book illustration.


References

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Notes


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Devis, Arthur William 1762 births 1822 deaths English portrait painters 18th-century English painters 18th-century English male artists English male painters 19th-century English painters 19th-century English male artists Horatio Nelson British East India Company people 19th-century painters of historical subjects Painters from London