The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-09 00:00:00

DEATH OF MR. SHEEPSHANKS.

The accomplished owner of the famous collection
of pictures, known as the Sheepshanks Gallery,
which be presented to the nation in his lifetime,
died at his residence, Rutland-gate, on Monday last.
Mr. Sheepshanks, born in 1787, was the son of a
wealthy cloth manufacturer at Leeds, and succeeded
his father in the business. His brother, the Rev.
College,nks ,
F.R.A.S., formerly
Cambridge, was the dis-
RtFinoiclglhouawirsdhoefdSTheriep
ny
astronomer.istha

Mr. Richard Sheepshanks took an active part in
the restoration of the standard scale of linear mea-
sure; was one of the Boundary Commissioners under
tin 1828.9, founded the Cambridge
Act
in the latter year joined Mr. G. B.
(Astronomer Royal)
in the pendulum opera-
tionsAChibersylelr evinfaotrry'
A Cornwall; in 1832 was consulted by the
Admiralty about Groombrides circumpolar cata-
logue; in 1838 settled the chronometrical determi-
nation of the longitude of Antwerp and Brussels;
and
on had e
t a
and astronomical
reputation for his construction of
ers
nuraical instruments. He
died in 1855.
chronometers

Mr. John Sheepshanks has for a long time been
known as a collector of choice
pictures, but has led
a quiet and unobtrusive life, liberal to artists and
happy in their society—.though unknown to the
general world up to the act of patriotic munificence
which entitled him to a nation's gratitude.
Early in December, 1856, London was surprised
and delighted to hear that Mr. Sheepshanks had
presented to the nation the whole of his splendid
collection of drawings and paintings, for the pur-
poses of public instruction in art. Mr. Sheepshanks
disapproved of irresponsible management by boards
like the trustees of the British Museum and Na-
tional Gallery, and made it a condition that the
responsibility of taking care of his collection should
rest with an individual minister--the Vice-President
of the Committee of Council on Education. The
generous donor considered that a crowded thorough-
fare was not suitable for the genial study of works
of art, and he stipulated that his collection should
be removed to South Kensington, giving also a
liberal permission to provincial towns to have the
Lord
pictures on loan, if the authorities provided suitable
places to exhibit them in- Palmerston ac-
cepted the splendid gift with gratitude on behalf
of the Government, and the collection was removed
from Rutland-gate to South Kensington early
in 1857. The collection ;
'8 worth about
rich
£60,000. It is especially in the best works
of Muiready, Leslie, and Landseer, and
con-
tains fine examples of the Principal modern British
oil-painters. There are 233 oil Paintings, 103
sketches and drawings by Turner, Stanfield,
Chalon, &c.

Among the "conditions precedent" of hit; gift
was one which Mr. SheepShau ultimately did not
insist upon—the opening of his ooilection on Sun-
days.

oticed and unrewarded
Mr. Sheepshanks lived min
for his munificence, and died at his London resi-
dence on the sth inst., at the age of 76. Had he
been a Frenchman be would have been a Member
of the Academy, and would have worn the ribbon
of the Legion of Honour. Whatever may have been
the remissness of the British Government to make
any recognitiou of the liberality of men like John
Sheepshanks and Robert Vernon, it is to the credit
of these gentlemen that they never claimed any
honour or made az I y stipulations in their own in-
terest, but fred and. without bargaining for
J