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occur in the domestic scenery, and realising their details with great truth. His art early became popular. In 1842 the direct- ors of the British Institution awarded him a premium of 60 guineas for the general merit of his works, and in the same year he was elected an associate of the Royal Aca- demy . The subj ects he loved to paint may be conceived by the titles he gave them. Thus, on his election he exhibited. ' The Old Foot Road ; ' in 1846, « The Hall Gar- den ' and * The Pleasant Way Home ; ' in 1849, 'A Glade in the Forest;' in 1851, when he was elected to his full membership,
- The Valley Mill ' and « Over the Sands ; *
in 1854, 'The Blithe Brook;' in 1859, 'The Village Bridge;' in 1861, 'In the North Countrie;' m 1864, 'Across the Beck.' He painted several works in con- junction with his friend R. Ansdell, R.A. His health and vigour had been for some time failing, but he continued to exhibit, usually three or four pictures, each season. He had for many years lived in Linden Grove. Bayswater, but his house being dis- turbed by a new railway line, he built him- self a residence in the Grove, which his rapidly declining health scarcely permitted him to enjoy, and he died there December 28, 1869. He was buried at the Kensal Green Cemetery. He painted the homely scenery of his country, especially its streams, in all its native beauty ana freshness; natural, pure, and simple in his treatment and colour, careful and complete in his finish, good taste prevailing in all his works, and conspicuously so in his charming con- tributions to the works of the Etching Club, of which he was a valued member, and also in his many designs on wood.
CRISTALL, Joshua, water-colour painter. Was born at Cambourne, in Cornwall, in 1767. His father was a na- tive of Scotland, and the master of a small trading vessel. An early love of art, which he secretly pursued, was opposed by his father ; and on the family coming to settle in Rotherhithe, he was apprenticed to a china-dealer. Hating this business he left it. and also his home, before the completion of his apprenticeship, and began a life of great hardship. He found some employ- ment as a china painter, and for a time worked in the Potteries. But the work was too mechanical ; he returned to London, and seriously injured his health, by at- tempting to subsist for a year solely on potatoes and water. Then, secretly assisted by his mother, he continued to study his art, gained admission to the schools of the Academy, and made rapid progress. Here his classic tastes, which he imbibed from his mother's teaching, were developed by his diligent study of the antique ; and he formed a style which he retained through life, and which added a grandeur even to 106
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common forms and rustic figures. He also frequented the house of Dr. Monro, which became a school for many of the rising water-colour painters of the day.
He does not appear to have been an exhibitor at the Academy, and it was not till the foundation of the Water-Colour Society in 1805 that his works were pub- licly seen. Of this society he was one of the foundation members, was several times president, and an earnest supporter. He had established himself in art. and during a long life was a constant exhibitor. His subjects were chiefly classic or rustic figures with landscape backgrounds, his figures well grouped and drawn with great refinement and taste, but with a tendency to too great height in their proportions, At the commencement of his career he lived first at Kentish Town, then at Chelsea and at Lambeth, and later at Paddington, where, in 1813, ne was fortunate in marry- ing a lady of cultivated mind, whose lively manners and talents made his house the resort of many friends. About 1821, his health failing, he purchased a cottage at Goodrich on the Wye, and removed there in 1822 ; but after some happy years, the death of his wife after a lingering illness rendered the neighbourhood: distasteful ; and in 1840 he returned to London, and took up his abode in Robert Street, Hamp- stead Road, and afterwards in Circus Road, St. John's Wood, where he died, October 18. 1847. He was, at his own request, buried near his wife at Goodrich.
Among his early works, and fresh from the schools, his classic tastes predominated, and his exhibited works comprised, with others, ' Lycidas,' ' The Judgment of Paris/ ' Hylas and Nymphs,' ' Diana and Endy- mion;' followed by rustic figures, fisher- men, gleaners and cottage groups, with landscapes. Soon after his marriage he tried portrait painting for a while, usu- ally small whole-lengths, introducing land- scape backgrounds. His art was simple, he used no oody colour, and was free from all trick. Original in manner and character, entirely without insipidity and prettiness, his works will always hold, a high rank in the water-colour school. He added some classical figures to Barret's landscapes, and some groups to Robson's Scotch scenery. He was an early member of the Sketching Society.
CROKER, John, medallist. Was bred a jeweller, and afterwards became medallist and engraver to the Mint. Commencing with the accession of Anne, he engraved all the medals of her reign, and also one large medal of King William's reign. He also engraved all the medals of George I., and many of George II. He died in 1740. His works have considerable merit, and he was one of the chief medallists. The
