Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lankrink, Prosper Henricus
LANKRINK, PROSPER HENRICUS (1628–1692), painter, born in Germany in 1628, was son of a German soldier, who came with his wife and child to Antwerp, where he procured a command in the service of the Netherlandish army. After his father's death Lankrink was well educated by his mother, who destined him for the clerical profession; but as he showed a great talent for painting, she reluctantly allowed him to be apprenticed to a painter, and to study in the academy of drawing at Antwerp. Here Lankrink made rapid strides, and soon showed a decided skill in painting landscape. This he increased by facilities offered him for studying good works by Titian, Salvator Rosa, and others in the collection of an amateur. After his mother's death Lankrink visited Italy, and then came to England, where he soon attracted attention. He was patronised, among others, by Sir Edward Spragge [q. v.] and by Sir William Williams. The latter bought most of Lankrink's paintings, which were, however, all destroyed by fire. Lely employed Lankrink to paint the landscapes, flowers, and similar accessories in his portraits. His landscape paintings were much admired at the time: one, with a 'Nymph Bathing her Feet,' was engraved in mezzotint by John Smith. He painted a ceiling for Mr. Richard Kent at Corsham, Wiltshire. Lankrink was fond of good living, and popular at court and in society, especially with ladies, but in middle life he fell into idle and dissipated habits. He formed a very good collection of pictures, prints, and drawings by the old masters, and by means of a loan from a friend, which he never repaid, added to it greatly at the sale of Sir Peter Lely's collection (cf. North, Lives, iii. 193). He lived for many years in Piccadilly, but subsequently removed to Covent Garden, where he lived in the house which afterwards became Richardson's Hotel. He died there in 1692, and was buried at his request under the porch of St. Paul's, Covent Garden. His collections were sold afterwards to defray his debts.
[Walpole's Anecd. of Painting, ed. Wornum; Vertue's MSS. (Brit. Mus. Addit. MSS. 23068–23075); Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Pilkington's Dict. of Painters.]