Lemuel Francis Abbott

Lemuel Francis Abbott (* 1760 or 1761 probably in the county of Leicestershire ( England); † December 5, 1802 in London) was an English portrait painter.

Life

Lemuel Francis Abbott was probably the son of the most active in the county of Leicestershire in central England cleric and poet Lemuel Abbott († April 1776 ) and his wife Mary. However, he received his first artistic training in 1775 in the British capital with the painter Francis Hayman, it could not complete because his teacher previously died (February 2, 1776). So he returned to his parents, but probably more portrait studies have graduated with Joseph Wright of Derby.

Around 1780, Abbott moved in the British metropolis and suggested there for many years resident in the Caroline Street in Bloomsbury in central London on. From his marriage, which he completed on 16 November 1786 Anna Maria Magdalen Tracey, was a son of Edward Francis Abbott bold (* December 20, 1787 ).

Abbott has been increasing number of high -ranking figures in England, especially in politics and Admiralty commissioned to paint her portrait. The naval hero Horatio Nelson, he painted several times. He also created images of scientists and fellow artists. In the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the much sought-after portraitist turned 1788-1800 from a total of 15 portraits of important men. He is said to have no employees due to its miserly disposition, and consequently many of its orders may not have to comply. But at least he accepted proven 1791 hunting painter Ben Marshall as a student.

In July 1798, Abbott was declared insane. Nevertheless, his exhibitions went to the Royal Academy of London further two years. His mental illness was attributed to alleged marital disputes. But he called his partner in his will of October 1800 as " beloved wife " and used them as the heir. Two years later he died at his home, which was located in the Penton Street in just north of central London, located district of Islington.

Work

Abbott characterized above all by its very realistic representation of the heads of his models, while the illustrations are by their übrigem body and the scenic background artistically much less successful. There are of him only Mr. portraits, but no pictures of ladies known. In many of his works of the body of the person portrayed is parallel to the image plane, but whose head is shown in three-quarter profile, as if he had just been distracted. Some paintings Abbotts were probably finished by other painters. Bites his numerous portraits resulted from, inter alia, Valentine Green, Joseph Skelton, William Walker, W. Barnard, JF Smith, and C. Turner. Valentine Green stabbed 1805 Abbott's self-portrait.

As Abbott's most successful portraits created his 1797 portrait of the British sculptor Joseph Nollekens and his depictions of Nelson, which he carried out in different variations apply. In the maritime history dedicated to National Maritime Museum, located in Greenwich, East London, to be kept for several works Abbotts, including a half-length portrait of Nelson (1797 /98), a full-body portrait of Admiral Sir Peter Parker ( 1794-99 ) and a portrait of Vice Admiral Sir Robert Calder (1798 ). Abbott's portrait of the British poet William Cowper (1792 ) and the German - born British astronomer William Herschel ( 1785), are on display at London's National Portrait Gallery, where there is also more portraits Abbotts are, inter alia, the above-mentioned paintings Nollekens ' and another of Nelson ( 1795 ). In the City Museum and Art Gallery in Birmingham Abbott hangs about 1802 's painting by the English engineer and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton.