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William Roscoe
Martin Archer Shee1815/1817
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Liverpool, United Kingdom
William Roscoe (1753-1831) was an historian, poet, art collector, lawyer, politician and philanthropist. He rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most outstanding figures in Liverpool’s history. He played an important role in developing the cultural life of the city during its commercial growth in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A large part of his pioneering collection of early Italian and Netherlandish paintings is now in the Walker Art Gallery.
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Details
- Title: William Roscoe
- Creator: Martin Archer Shee
- Creator Lifespan: 1769/1850
- Creator Nationality: Irish
- Creator Gender: Male
- Creator Death Place: Brighton, England
- Creator Birth Place: Dublin, Ireland
- Date Created: 1815/1817
- tag / style: Martin Archer Shee; William Roscoe; library; books; bust; writing; papers; chair; seated; portraiture; scholar; manuscripts; Charles James Fox; The Life and Pontificate of Leo X; globe
- Physical Dimensions: w1665 x h2330 cm (Without frame)
- Artist biographical information: Shee received a classical education then entered the Drawing Academy of the Royal Dublin Society. On finishing he produced portraits of members of Dublin society in oil and pastel. He travelled to London in 1788 but had little success until his cousin Sir George Shee gained him an audience with Sir Joshua Reynolds. He enrolled at the Royal Academy schools in 1790 and subsequently gained a new level of self-confidence. Although known mainly as a portrait painter he produced a small number of historical and religious subjects. Shee succeeded Thomas Lawrence as the President of the Royal Academy in 1830 and went on to paint several royal portraits, including one of Queen Victoria.
- Additional artwork information: This portrait was commissioned by the future 1st Earl of Leicester, whose important library at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, Roscoe undertook to catalogue; it originally hung outside the entrance to the library. Roscoe is shown as a scholar surrounded by books and manuscripts. On the table stands a bust of Charles James Fox, his political hero, in front of which are volumes of Roscoe’s acclaimed book, 'The Life and Pontificate of Leo X'. Roscoe sat to Shee at least four times in December 1815. To learn more about this painting and the sitter, William Roscoe, please follow this link: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/collections/landing/williamroscoe.aspx
- Type: Oil on canvas
- Rights: Presented by the 2nd Earl of Leicester in 1860
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