Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cradock, Marmaduke
CRADOCK, MARMADUKE (1660?–1716), painter (erroneously called ‘Luke’ by Walpole), was born at Somerton, near Ilchester, Somersetshire, about 1660, and was sent to London. After the expiration of an apprenticeship to a house-painter, he became a skilful painter from nature of animals, birds, and still life, but did not meet with success, and worked for dealers. He died in March 1716, and was buried on 24 March in St. Mary's, Whitechapel, having resided in Colchester Street. After his death the merits of his pictures were recognised, and they rose in value. Some very spirited groups of birds were engraved and published in 1740–3 by Josephus Sympson. Walpole praises some pictures by Cradock. One is at Knowsley.
[Redgrave's Dict. of English Artists; Nagler's Künstler-Lexikon; Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Dallaway and Wornum; Sarsfield Taylor's State of the Arts in Great Britain and Ireland; Scharf's Catalogue of the Pictures at Knowsley Hall; Registers of St. Mary's, Whitechapel.]