CROME, Jortx (1768-1821). An English landscape painter. founder of the Norwich school. lie is usually called Old Crome. to dis tinguish him froni his son of the same name. Born on December 22. 176S. he passed his youth in humble circumstances, acquiring his taste for painting during an apprenticeship to a sign painter. Together with Robert Ladbrook. a printer's apprentice, he rented a garret and start ed upon his career as a painter. The two artists spent their leisure time sketching in the field. endeavoring to reproduce nature exactly. Crone's pictures thus became 'exact views' of the places he loved. His technique is that of the Dutch masters, whom he studied in the houses of the Norfolk gentry, in his capacity as a drawing teacher, and in a visit to Paris. llobbema, in especial. was his favorite master. Crome's pie tures contained the usual brown tone of the Dutch school, and they are occasionally marred by to detail, they always contain a true feeling fun' light and air. Ile painted trees with great force and individuality. Ills "Oak at Poringlam" and the "Willow" are highest. masterpieces of their kind. 11 is works
are mostly in private possession, especially among the gentry of Norfolk. The National Gal lery contains two good examples. "Mousehold Heath" and "Chapel Fields, llis fa vorite subjects were taken from the scenery about his native home, but he was capable of adapting 11 i nisei f to the livelier tones of Ereneli landscape, as is indicated in his "Eishmarket at .11oulogne" ?nd his rd des I ta 1 ien., Paris." Although he followed etching as a pas time only, he was an excellent etcher, working with great care and detail. though sometimes not achieving tone and atmosphere. Ills etch ings were published after his death, in 1834, under the title of Yorfoll: Picturesque Scenery, and again in 1838 and 1850. Crome seldom ex hibited in London, but he displayed at different times no less than 288 pictures in the Norfolk Society of Artists. This society he himself founded in 1803, becoming its pretident in 1808. Ile died April 22, 1821, at Norwich, where near ly all of his life had been passed.