Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Laporte, John
LAPORTE, JOHN (1761–1839), water-colour painter, was born in 1761, and became a drawing-master at the military academy at Addiscombe. He was also a successful private teacher, and Dr. Thomas Monro [q. v.], the patron of Turner, was one of his pupils. From 1785 he contributed landscapes to the Royal Academy and British Institution exhibitions, and was an original member of the short-lived society 'The Associated Artists in Water-colours,' from which he retired in 1811. He published: 'Characters of Trees,' 1798–1801, 'Progressive Lessons sketched from Nature,' 1804, and 'The Progress of a Water-colour Drawing;' and, in conjunction with William F. Wells [q. v.], executed a set of seventy-two etchings, entitled 'A Collection of Prints illustrative of English Scenery, from the Drawings and Sketches of T. Gainsborough,' 1819. His 'Perdita discovered by the Old Shepherd' was engraved by Bartolozzi, and his 'View of Millbank on the River Thames near London' by F. Jukes. Laporte died in London 8 July 1839. Three of his drawings are in the South Kensington Museum. His daughter, Miss M. A. Laporte, exhibited portraits and fancy subjects at the Academy and the British Institution from 1813 to 1822; in 1835 she was elected a member of the Institute of Painters in Water-colours, but withdrew in 1846.
Laporte, George Henry (d. 1873), animal painter, son of the above, exhibited sporting subjects at the Academy, British Institution, and Suffolk Street Gallery from 1818, and was a foundation member of the Institute of Painters in Water-colours, to which he sent clever representations of animals, hunting scenes, and military groups. Some of his works were engraved in the 'New Sporting Magazine.' Laporte held the appointment of animal painter to the king of Hanover. He died suddenly at 13 Norfolk Square, London, 23 Oct. 1873.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Roget's History of the Old Water-colour Society, 1891; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880; Royal Academy and British Institution Catalogues; Year's Art, 1886; Times, 25 Oct. 1873.]