Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Stevens, Francis
STEVENS, FRANCIS (1781–1823), landscape-painter, was born, probably at Exeter, on 21 Nov. 1781. He was a pupil of Paul Sandby Munn [q. v.], and became a skilful painter of landscape and cottage architecture, working chiefly in watercolours. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1804 and 1805, and in the latter year was elected an associate of the newly founded Watercolour Society; he was promoted to full membership in 1809. Stevens was one of the originators of the Sketching Society in 1808. In 1815 he etched and published a series of views of farmhouses and cottages from drawings by Munn, Varley, Prout, and others. Later he settled at Exeter, whence he sent works to the Royal Academy in 1819 and 1822. He died of apoplexy at Exeter in 1823. His ‘Lustleigh Cleeve’ is in the Devon and Exeter Institution.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Roget's Hist. of the ‘Old Watercolour’ Soc.; Pycroft's Devonshire Artists; Exhibition Catalogues.]