Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Crome, John Bernay
CROME, JOHN BERNAY (1794–1842) landscape-painter, the eldest son of John (Old) Crome [q. v.], was born at Norwich 14 Dec. 1794. He was christened John Barney, after his father's christian and mother's maiden name, but in the record of the baptisms of other members of his family the mother's name is sometimes spelt Berney and Bernay. He was educated at the grammar school at Norwich under Dr. Samuel Forster and the Rev. Edward Valpy. He was brought up as an artist, assisted his father in teaching, and succeeded him in his practice. He painted coast and country scenes, and attained considerable local reputation as a painter and a teacher. He was a member of the Norwich Society of Artists, and between 1806 and 1830 sent 277 of his works to their exhibitions. Between 1811 and 1843 he exhibited seven works at the Royal Academy, thirty-five at the British Institution, and fifty-five at the Society of British Artists. He made frequent visits to the continent, and the subjects of some of his pictures were taken from places in France, Holland, Belgium, and Italy. Towards the close of his life he became celebrated for his moonlight pictures. In 1835 he left Norwich for Great Yarmouth, where he died, after much suffering, from an incurable disease, 15 Sept. 1842, aged 48. He was twice married, and left a widow but no children. His pictures are unequal in merit, but his best are so like those of his father that some of them have been exhibited and sold as such.
[Wodderspoon's John Crome and his Works, 2nd edit.; Norfolk Chronicle, 17 Sept. 1842; Norwich Mercury, same date; Redgrave's Dict.; information communicated by Mr. James Reeve of Norwich.]