Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Marlow, William
MARLOW, WILLIAM (1740–1813), water-colour painter, born in 1740, studied under Samuel Scott the marine painter, and also at the St. Martin's Lane academy. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and contributed to their exhibitions in Spring Gardens in 1762, 1763, and 1764. He was employed in painting the country seats of noblemen, and by advice of the Duchess of Northumberland travelled in France and Italy from 1765 to 1768. On his return he renewed his contributions to the Society of Artists, and took up his residence in Leicester Square. In 1788 he removed to Twickenham, and commenced to exhibit at the Royal Academy, sending works regularly till 1796, and again, for the last time, in 1807, when he sent 'Twickenham Ferry by Moonlight.' He painted in oil as well as water-colour. In the South Kensington Museum is a landscape in oil by him, 'Composition with Ruined Temple, Cattle Watering, and Men Fishing,' besides two drawings in water-colour and about forty sketches. There are some of his works at the Foundling Hospital, and a few drawings in the British Museum. His drawings are graceful but of no great power, and his method in water-colour did not advance beyond tinting. His subjects were generally English country scenes, but he painted some pictures from his Italian sketches, and etched some of the latter, as well as some views on the Thames. His views of the bridges at Westminster and Blackfriars were engraved.
He realised a moderate competence, and died at Twickenham 14 Jan. 1813. He exhibited in all 152 works, 125 at the Society of Artists, two at the Free Society, and twenty-five at the Royal Academy.
[Redgrave's Dict.; Graves's (Algernon) Dict.; Catalogues of South Kensington Museum; Roget's Old Water-Colour Society.]