The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-18 00:00:00

WILLIAM DYCE, R.A.

The announcement of the death of William Dyce in the
prime of life will shock those who are not aware that the

great artist has been in feeble health for a lorg time past.
Mr. Dyce has been suffering for months from chronic bron-
chitis, but died at last from cancer of a most painful and
distressing nature.
William Dyce was born at Aberdeen in 1806. His father
was Dr. William Dyce. F.R.S.E., and his cousin is the
Rev. Alexander Dyce, the well-known editor of Beaumont
and Fletcher, and Marlowe, and the Shaksperian Commen-
tator, author of th, Lives of Shakspere, Pope, Akenside,
and Beattie. William Dyce took the degree of M.A. at
Marischal College, Aberdeen, at the early age of 16, and it
may be added that he was known through life as a polished
scholar and able writer. Indeed, at the age of 22, in 1828,
he wrote a paper on electromagnetism which obtained the
Blackall prize at Aberdeen.

After taking his degree he entered at the Royal Scottish
Academy, and made his first appearance as a classical artist
at one of the exhibitions. In 1825 he visited Itsly, and for
9 months stud.ed in Rome, returning in the following year
to Aberdeen, where he decorated a room in his father's house
in the arabesque style. In 1827 appeared his " Bacchus
nursed by the Nymphs of Nysa," which was exhibited at
the Royal Academy, and in the same year he went again to
Rome. At Rome Mr. Dyce imbibed those habitsof reverent
and solemn study of religious subjects which distinguished
him through life—witness his " Madonna and Child," pro-
duced in 1828. From 183) to 1838 the artist lived in Edin-
burgh, but, finding small encouragement in his attempts at
historical painting, he set himself to work at portrait pain t-
ing, and was successful, especially in the likenesses of chil-
dren. In 1835 he became an associate of the Royal Scot-
tish Academy, and in the following year exhibited his
"Descent of Venus" at the Royal Academy, London.

In 1838 Mr. Dyce left Edinburgh on being appointed
superintendent and secretary of the new Government
School of Design, at Somerset House. He obtained the
of ice through a letter addressed to Lord Meadowbank, in
which he advocated the improvement of the schools of de-
signs belonging to the board of trustees for the manfactures
of Edinburgh. Shortly after his appointment he was sent
by Government to France, Prussia, and Bavaria for the
purpose of procuring information on matters relating to his
new duties, and his report (1840) led to the remodelling of
the London Schools of Design.

In 1839 he produced " St. Dunstan separating Evary and
Elgiva" (Royal Academy). In 1840, " Titian Teaching
Irene de Spilembergo." In 1841 he exhibited at the
British Institution " The Christian's Yoke." In 1843 he
producc-d " Jessica." In 1843 he resigned his appointment
at the School of Design and was appointed Inspector of the
Provincial Schools. In 1844 Mr. Dyce was elected A.R.A.,
and exhibited a picture of " King Joash Shooting the Arrow
of Deliverance," which picture made Mr. Dyce's reputa-
tion.

When, on the invitation of the Government, the leading
artists of England were asked to join in a project for deco-
rating the Houses of Parliament with frescoes, Mr. Dyce
was associated with Mr. Macllse, Mr. Cope, Mr. Horsley,
Mr. Tenniel, and Mr. E. Armitage. The picture which
procured Mr. Dyce's engagement was that of the " Conse-
cration of Archbishop Parker in Lambeth Palace Chapel in
1559," which was exhibited at Westminster.
Mr. Dyce's work in the Houses of Parliament has been
the subject of very unpleasant discussion in artistic circles
and in the House of Commons, on which it is not necessary
to remark in this place. No doubt ill health prevented
Mr. Dyce from completing his contract, but as soon as he
found himself incapable of fulfilling it he returned the
money which he had received on account. He had. how-
ever, done some noble work. His " Baptism of Ethelbert"
in the House of Lords was universally admired. Then he
was engaged to paint in the Queen's robing-room " The
Legends of King -Irthur." He engaged to d o this in eight
years, and began his work in 1848. He has only done a few
of the pictures—on the west wall a picture of " Religion ;
or, the Vision of Sir Percival and his Company." "Gene'
rosily" was represented by King Arthur, unhorsed, spared
by his adversary, and Sir Tristam represented " Courtesy."
On the north wall there is a picture of " Mercy," but there
are great omissions on the walla—two paintings on the
east and one on the north side, besides friezes on all four
sides.

Mr. Dyce has been engaged in ornamenting the royal
palaces, Buckingham Palace, and Osborne. The late Prince
Cousort invited Mr. Dyce, with Sir C. Eastlake, Sir E
Landseer, Mr. Ross, Mr. Maclise, Mr. Uwins, Mr. Leslie,
and Mr. Stanfield, to illustrate Milton's "Corals."

In 1846 Mr. Dyce exhibited, at the Royal Academy,
"The Madoina and Child;" and in 1847 he produced
" Neptune giving the Empire of the Sea to Britannia," for
the late Prince Consort. It is
impossible to give any de-
tails of Mr. Dyce's work at length. He was wade R.A. in
1848. The names of his pictures only need be given—
" Omnia Vanitas (1849), the
" Meeting of Jacob and
Rachel," " Lear and the Fool" (1851), " Christabel"
(1853), " The Good Shepherd" (1856), " Titian's First
Essay in Colouring (1857), "The Man of Sorrows," and
"St. John leading home his Mother" (painted in 181 4),
"
and revised in 1851) ;
" - P
egwell Bay" (a wonderfully fine
landscape picture). and "George Herbert at Bemerton "
(one of the most deservedly popular in the Royal Academy
Exhibition of 1861).

Mr. Dyce his recently been known chiefly for his splen-
did frescjes in All Saints', Margaret-street. To this work
he devoted all his exertions for many years, and he has
succeeded in producing an artistic work, unique of it s
kind, which will hand down its author's name to
posterity as one of •the first artists in England.
Every Londoner knows this splendid work of art : in the
centre the Madonna and Child, the Twelve Apostles, six on
each side, and, above all, " the Lord enthroned." From
Mr. Dyce's designs a stained glass window (the choristers'
window) has been erected in Ely Cathedral, and another in
Alnwick Church, in memory of the late Duke of Northum-
berland.

Mr. Dyce has held the office of Professor of the Theory
of the Fine Arts in King's College, London, and was a
member of the Academy of Fine Arta of Philadelphia, U.S.,
and an honorary academician of his old alma mater, the
Royal Scottish Academy.
Mr. Dyce was not only a distinguished artist, but he was
an accomplished scholar and an able critic. It has been
said that in his earlier years he wrote an essay on " Electro
Magnetism." He has not only directed attention to
scientific purposes—in 1843-4 he published a gorgeous
edition of the " Book of Common Prayer," with its ancient
" Canto Fermo," to which he added an essay on that kind
of music, and it applicability to English words.
Mr. Dyce was one of the most conscientious and pains-
taking artists of his day. He used his great powers for
religious purposes, and the Established Church owes him
a large debt of gratitude for his persistant devotion of his
talents to her service.

SACRED HARMONIC '6OCIETY.—EXETER HALL.—
Haudel's oratorio " Israel in Egypt," so well known from
its magnificent double ehorusees, will be performed at
Exeter Hall to-morrow (Friday) evening..
DESTRUCTION OF COLT'S PISTOL MANUFACTORY.

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building destroyed, Colt's pistols and revolving rifles
were manufactured. In the buildings saved, the United
States rifles are manufactured, the company having a
:ergo conti act from the Government for the manufacture
of these weapons. This portion of the works will con-
tinue in operation, giving employment to SOO men, The
stock of pistols and rifles completed and in process of manu-
facture, which was destroyed by this fire, is valued at a mil-
lion of dollars. The macinery destroyed cost more than
half a million; and the whole loss is estimated at two mil-
lions. The total insurance on tho property is 660,000 dole,
of which about 60 per cent was on the property destroyed.
Nearly 900 men are thrown out of employment. The fire
broke out in the drying-room in the attic, and spread with
great rapidity. The origin of the fire is a mystery, One
man was killed, and another is still missing,