Sir Francis Chantrey, R. A. Recollections of his life, practice and opinions

Preface

These Notes have been written under the influence of respect and affection. They have been made at various times, and at longintervals, with no other view than to offer a slender record of exalted merit.

The author apologises for his errors, and begs to acknowledge the kind assistance of Sir Henry Russell, Mr. Leslie, and other friends.

December, 1849 .

SIR FRANCIS CHANTREY.

Sir Francis Chantrey was born at Norton, in Derbyshire, not far from Sheffield, in 1782. His father cultivated a small property of his own. .To his son Francis he wished to give an education suited to his station, and based on the best dictates of common sense, which through life the sculptor developed in a most exemplary manner, for whatever may be the opinion of the world as to his merits as an artist, or his accomplishments as a man, all agree in acknowledging his remarkable and undeviating sagacity. Chantrey’s father died when he was eight years of age, and his

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EARLY PREDILECTIONS.

mother soon, married again, which probably prevented an earlier consideration of her son’s course of life, and his profession was not determined by his friends until he had reached his sixteenth year, at which period their intention was to place him with a lawyer in Sheffield.

Chantrey saw in a shop window in that town some carving in wood, which induced him to declare his wish to be a carver instead of a solicitor, which was acceded to by his relatives, and he was, in consequence, bound apprentice to Mr. Ramsay, a carver in wood, at Sheffield, where he commenced a career for his future maintenance. At the house of his master, he met Mr. Raphael Smith, the distinguished draftsman in crayon.

The works of that ingenious artist soon attracted the attention of young Francis, who took pleasure in seeing Mr. Smith paint, and rendered himself agreeable and serviceable in useful offices about the artist whilst he was painting, and he

JOURNEY TO IRELAND.

became so impressed with the desire of practising art in a higher class than wood carving, that at the age of twenty-one he gave the whole amount of his wealth, that being fifty pounds, to his master, to induce him to cancel his indentures ; for Chantrey's impatience to commence his course as an artist would not allow him to wait during the six months of his unexpired apprenticeship. With his freedom he began his studies and practice in the liberal arts, and painted the portraits of his friends and others, by which he gained a small sum of money, and having borrowed a little, he ventured to try his fortune in London ; but with sagacious caution he sought employment as an assistant carver in wood, rather than as a painter in a metropolis, where so many able competitors were ready to impede, contest, and rival his progress.

Soon after this time Chantrey went to Ireland, where he suffered so severely from a fever, that

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RESEMBLANCE TO SHAKSPEARE.

his recovery was doubtful ; anu in the progress of the disease he lost his hair, and was bald at his restoration to health, and so he remained duiing the rest of his life, which, however, rather improved than injured the character of his head ; and to those who never saw the sculptor, a portrait of Shakspeare may supply a resemblance, as the pictures and prints of the immortal poet have often recalled his open countenance to the memory of his friends. Alluding to this supposed likeness he once observed, “ Shakspeare might have been the ruin of me, for when I was young, and knew no better, I had been told I was like his picture, and that notion very nearly made me a coxcomb ; ” for although Chantrey was confident in his capacity, yet he was quite free from conceit. At his return to England he continued carving, and executed some figures in •wood, in the possession of Mr. Hope. During the time that Chantrey was a carver in wood, he