BROWNE, HABLOT KNIGHT English artist, famous as "Phiz," was born at Lambeth in humble cir cumstances and was early apprenticed to the eminent engraver Finden, in whose studio his only artistic education was obtained. At the age of 19 he abandoned engraving in favour of other artistic work, and a meeting with Dickens two years later deter mined the form which this should take. Robert Seymour, the original illustrator of Pickwick, had just committed suicide, and the serial publication of the book was in danger from the lack of a capable successor. Browne applied for the post, and the draw ings which he submitted were preferred by Dickens to those of a rival applicant—W. M. Thackeray. His pseudonym of "Phiz" was adopted in order to harmonize with Dickens's "Boz," and it was by his work for Dickens (especially in Pickwick, David Copper field, Dombey and Son, Martin Chuzzlewit and Bleak House) that his reputation was made. He also illustrated the best-known novels of Lever and Harrison Ainsworth in their original editions, and his work was in constant demand by pub lishers until a stroke of paralysis, in 1867, permanently injured his powers. His early ambition to become famous as a painter was not realized, but he gained great popularity and was awarded an annuity by the Royal Academy in 1878.