Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-29
DEATH OF An EMINENT ENGLISH
PAINTER.

The English papers chronicle the death of
Sir Edwin Landseer, one of Britain's most
distinguished painters. The London TeIe-
graph contains the following biographical
sketch of this great artist:
The life of Sir Edwin Landseer has run
very nearly parallel with the century. He
was born in London in 1902, the third son
of John Lsndseer, himself distinguished
engrSver, and an Associate of the Royal
Academy of Arts. John Landseer had the
intelligence to discover his sons genius and
capacity, and TO devote him very early to
those studies and exercises calculated to give
them development. When only fourteen
years Of age, in the year 1916, he had become
q student of the Academy-eVen before
that date bad acquired excellence and, as
we may now say, forecast his future by de-
lineatiOns of animated nature. At time
when the national mind and inspiration of
England were so wsrlike, when every home
in the land was stirred by the exploits of
Nelson, wellington and Bonaparte, the de-
cided native bent of young Landseer's char
acter was showing itself in the earliest study
OF Nature in her most peaceful and kindly
aspects. Seldom has a parents influence
been more judicious or more efficient. John
breathed into him the true spirit of artistic
education-the desire to learn from Ma
ture herself. The consequence was
that the pupil and son, endowed with
q remarkable perseverance and energy,
as soon as had reached bis teens had
virtually chosen for himself the special path
of art in which he afterwards acquired SO
much distinction. To the delight Of his
friends he had, when mere boy, begun to
paint and model animals, especially horses,
dogs and cats-taking his subjects, even at
that early age, from the living creatures
around him. The boyIh training, inces-
SAINT application and artistic skill impaired
precocious originality and premature finish
10 his productions. AT the aga OF sixteen
Edwin Laudseer exhibited his "Dog Figh.;"
and two years later, in 1920, the walls IF
the Royal Academy bore bis ''DQS Of st.
Bernard discovering Traveller IN the
Show" which, it has been said, "placed
him at bound in the front rank
Of contemporary painters. Landseer
was not spoilt by success. Perhaps
it was fortunate for him that at this period
he took the advice OF his friend, the Ia
mented Hayden, to make more thorough
study of animal anatomy, SO as to produce
the highest results of a union OF science
with art. From that period his manner
gradually ripened, and his power of avail
ing himself of all the accessories of varied
knowledge and observation showed itself
more and more in his paintings. Landseer
was elected an A. r. A, in 1926, an K. A.
in 1881, and received the honor of knight
hood In 1850. He declined the Presidency
of the Royal Academy. When Sir Charles
Eastlake died, in 1856, Lsndseer was
chosen to succeed him. He refused, how
ever, to accept the honor. There was an
adjournment of q week, in the hopes that
be might alter bis resolution. The
resolve, however, was fixed, and the presi-
dency was offered to Mr.. Maclise. He also
declined it, and Sir Francis Grant was
thereupon elected. Landseer's talents
achieved for him not only honor but fortune.
He received in 1866, from the jury of the
French International Exhibition, the Grand
Medal of Honor; and since 1847 has been
member of the Royal Academy of Belgium.
The rich and noble families of his native
country for nearly half century made in.
cessant demands upon bis pencil. Portraits,
frescoes, rural scenes, frontispieces for books
innumerable, have been executed in this
way. 1t is interesting to add that one of
bis great works was accomplished at the
command of her Majesty. This was the
"Defeat of Comus," scene suggested by
Milton, and painted in 1843 for fresco in
the summer house Of the garden Of Buck
fnoham Palace,