COX, DAVID (1783-1859) . An English painter in water-eolo•s and oils, the greatest English water-colo•ist. He was born at Deritend, near Birmingham, April 29, 1783, the son of a black smith. He studied drawing under Joseph Bar ber, of Birmingham, and water-eolor under John Valley in London. He was at first a scene painter in theatres, and for a long time support ed himself by teaching drawing, until at. length there came patronage sufficient for his moderate desires. In 1805 he traveled in Wales, the scen ery of which from this time became the favorite subject of his paintings. In 1813 he was made a member of the Society of Painters and Water Colorists, and in 1814 he published his Troatisc on Landscape Painting and Effect in Tratcr-Colors. He did not begin the study of oil-painting until his fifty-sixth year, under Miiller in London, but he attained great proficiency. Indeed, there is reason to believe that had he practiced it from the beginning he might have equaled Constable. In 1841 he retired to Harbourne, near Birming ham, where he resided until his death on June 7. 1859. Cox is certainly the most important of the successors of Constable. His work is bold and aims at a general effect, disregarding small and conflicting details. His colors are those of nature, pure, fresh, and rich, and be handles light with consummate skill. His treatment of atmosphere and atmospheric mood is of the highest order. Ilis small productions are usu ally better than the larger. He is the great painter of Welsh scenery. of which he was par ticularly fond. The British Museum and the South Kensington Muse= possess some of Ilk' drawings, but the best of his work is in private possession. Several general exhibitions of his
work have been held. the best of which was that of Manchester in 1887. Among his best water colors are the "Hay Field" (1843), "Bolton Abbey" (1847), and the "Welsh Funeral" (1850) ; among his oils, the "Vale of Clwyd" and "Peace and War." His SO11 DAVID ('ox, the younger (1809-85), was also a water-colorist of repute, but not of the same ability as his father. Consult : hall, Biography of David ('ox (Lon don, 1881) ; Solly, Memoir of David Cox (Lon don, 1875).
COX, Sir ClixafnE WILLIA r ( 1827—) . A British divine and scholar. lie was born at Bemires, India, but was taken to England when eight. years old. Ife studied at Rugby and Ox ford; took orders; was appointed curate of Salcombe Regis. near Sidmouth; and later was rector of Scrayingham, York, from 1881 to 1897, when he resigned with a pension from the Civil List. Ile is a leading exponent of the sun-myth theory in comparative mythology, and has pub lished Poems Legendary and Ilistorical (1850) ; Life of Saint Boniface (1853) ; .Mythology of the Aryan Nations (1870) ; History of Greece (1874) ; The Crusades (1874); The Athenian Empire (1876) ; British Rule in India (1881) ; Life of Bishop Colenso (1888) ; and The Church of England and the Teaching of Bishop (18SS). In 1891 he was chosen Bishop of Natal by the friends of Bishop Colenso (q.v.), but was refused consecration by the archbishops and bishops of England.