Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cleveley, Robert
CLEVELEY, ROBERT (1747–1809), marine painter, was twin-brother of John Cleveley [q. v.] Like his brother he painted both in oil and in water colours. It is uncertain whether he was one of the Cleveleys who exhibited at the Free Society of Artists in 1764 and the following years, but in 1780 he appears as an exhibitor at the Royal Academy. At first he is classed among the honorary exhibitors, and is sometimes styled 'Robert Cleveley of the Navy.' It does not appear, however, that he ever held any commission in the navy, and he probably had some dockyard appointment similar to those held by his father and brother. He very soon attained distinction as a painter of naval actions. Among those represented by him on canvas were 'Commodore Elliott in the Edgar leading the British Line under Admiral Kempenfeldt and engaging Monsieur Vaudreuil in Le Triomphant, 12 Dec. 1781;' 'The Relief of Gibraltar by Lord Howe,' 'Admiral Hawke pursuing the French Fleet in November 1759,' 'The Ruby engaging the Solitaire,' and 'The Solitaire striking to the Ruby 6 Dec. 1782;' 'The Marlborough engaging on 1 June 1794; ' 'Retreat of the French Squadron into Port L'Orient 23 June 1795;' 'Commodore Nelson boarding and taking the San Nicolas and San Josef;' 'H.M.S. Victory engaging the Spanish ship Prince of Astunas 14 Feb. 1797;' 'The Defeat of the Spanish Fleet on the Evening of 14 Feb. 1797;' two pictures of 'The Battle of the Nile, 1 Aug. 1798;' 'The Defeat of the Spanish Fleet by Admiral Jervis off Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1796.' In 1795 he exhibited separately in Bond Street two large pictures representing the 'Morn' and the 'Eve of the Great Victory of the British Fleet under Earl Howe on 1 June 1794;' these two pictures were much admired and were engraved by T. Medland and B. T. Pouncy. A series of great English naval victories from Cleveley's paintings was engraved by J. Q. Walker, R. Rhodes, and others. Cleveley also painted numerous views of shipping and coast scenery at home and abroad. He was appointed marine draughtsman to the Duke of Clarence and also marine painter to the Prince of Wales. He was accidentally killed by a fall on 28 Sept. 1809, while on a visit to a relative at Dover. There was a good portrait of him in civilian dress painted by Sir William Beechey, which was engraved by Freeman and published after his death.
[Redgrave's Dict. of English Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760-1880; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. iv. 473; Examiner, 3 Oct. 1809; Catalogues of the Royal Academy and the Free Society of Artists; Registers of St. Paul's, Deptfora, per Rev. H. G. Gundy, D.D.; manuscript information (Anderdon), print-room, British Museum.]