ETTY, WILLIAM, R.A. This distinguished artist was b. at York, Mar. 10, 1787. His father was a miller and spice-maker. Before he was 12 years of age, he was appren ticed to a printer, and served out his dreary term of seven years, the irksome drudgery of which he hiniself often afterwards was in the habit of narrating, occasionally soothed by dreams of, on some future day, being an artist. Freed at last, and.assisted by some relatives, in 1805, at the age of 18, he entered on the study of art, and, after a year's probation, was admitted as a royal academy student. His career is very interesting and instructive. It exhibits one gifted with enthusiasm for art, high resolutions, and great industry and perseverance, for a series of years invariably surpassed by many of his fel low-students, and, as has been recorded, 'looked on by his companions as a worthy plodding person, with no chance of ever becoming a good painter." Neither prizes nor medals fell to his share as a student; and for several years his pictures were rejected at the royal academy and British institution exhibitions. It was only after six years of hard study that he obtained a place for a picture in the exhibition of the royal academy; and his works only began to attract notice in 1820, when the artist was 33 years of age, and as he himself has said, "having exhibited nine years to no purpose." But the circumstance of E.'s genius being so long unappreciated, did not so much arise from his works evincing no talent, as from his class of subjects, and those technical qualities for which his works are remarkable, not being appreciated at the time; for long before his pictures were salable, his powers were highly appreciated by his professional brethren. On his return from Italy in 1822, where he had been studying the great Vene tian colorists, he was elected an associate of the academy. In 1824, his eltef-d'ceuvre, "The Combat—Woman pleading for the Vanquished," was purchased by an artist, John Martin, In 1828, he was elected academician by the members of the royal acad emy; while in the same year the royal Scottish academy testified its high appreciation of his talents by purchasing the most important of his efforts, the historical work illus trating the history of Judith and Holofernes. Testimonials so high soon had their effect;
E.'s pictures came into great request, and brought large prices, and he was enabled amply to repay those who, trusting to his energies, had assisted him when he entered on the contest, in which, after so arduous a struggle, he gained so much honor. He always cherished a love and reverence for York, his native city, and had retired there some time previous to his death, which took place on Nov. 30, 1849.
E. had an exquisite feeling for color, which he most assiduously cultivated by stud ying the great Venetian masters, and constantly painting from the life; and though, in his drawing, carelessness and incorrectness may often be observed, it is never vulgar, and often possesses much elevation and largeness of style. He generally chose subjects. that afforded scope for color, in which the nude and rich draperies were displayed. Ile executed nine pictures on a very large scale, viz.: "The Combat;" series of three pic tures illustrating the delivery of Bethulia by Judith; "Benaiah slaying two Lion-like Men of Moab"—these five, which are the best of his large works, were purchased by the royal Scottish academy, and are now in the Scottish national gallery—" The Syrens," now in the Manchester institution; and three pictures illustrating the history of Joan of Arc. His smaller works are numerous. Besides his large works above referred to, lie sent for exhibition to the royal academy and British institution, between 1811 and 1849 inclusive, no less than 230 pictures, many of them composed of numerous figures, and all remarkable for exquisite color. The following may be particularly noted: " The Coral-finders;" " Venus and her youthful Satellites arriving at the Isle of " Cleopatra's Arrival in Cilicia;" a composition from the eleventh book of Paradise Lost (" Bevy of Fair Women"); " The Storm;" " Sabrina;" "The Warrior Arming:" "Youth at the Prow, and Pleasure at the Helm;" "The Dance," from Homer's description of Achilles's Shield; " Britomart redeems Fair Amoret;" " Dance on the Sands, and yet no Footing seen;" "Amoret Chained."—Compare E.'s life by Gilchrist (Bogue, London, 1855).