ET'TY, Wit.r.t.tm ( 1777-1849 ) . An English painter, born at York, March 10, 1777. In ac cordance with the wishes of his father, he served seven years of apprenticeship to a printer of null. He was, however, enabled to prosecute his studies in painting through the generosity of his uncle, William Etty, who in 1806 invited him to visit London. In 1807 he entered the Royal Academy School, studying under Fuseli, and he also studied privately for a year under Sir T1DDDag Lawrence. Ile copied a great deal from the old masters in the National Gallery, and was a constant student in the Life School of the Academy, which he vont inued to attend even after he hat] become an Avadetnieian. Ile paid a brief visit to Paris and Florence in 1816, and in 1822 he took a longer journey to Italy, spending most of his time in Venice. Front his studies of the Venetian mas ters he acquired that excellence in color for which his works are chiefly known. He was made an honorary member of the Academy of Venice. On his return to England, in 1824, his "Pandora Crowned by the Season" was much applauded, and he was made a member of the Royal Academy in 1828. From this time he was very successful,
and amassed a good competence. He resided in London until 184S, but on account of failing health he retired to York, where he died Novem ber 13, 1849.
Etty's best works arc figure pieces, mostly on classical subjects. They are marked by a certain charm of color, his carnation being particularly good. The composition is also good, but the drawing is sometimes faulty, and his work lacks life and originality. Ile always endeavored to inculcate moral lessons by his pictures. Ile him self considered his best works to be "The Com bat," the three "Judith" pictures, "Beniab, David's Chief Captain," "Ulysses and the Sirens," and the three pictures of "Joan of Arc." A num ber of his important works are in the National Gallery, the South Kensington Museum, and the National Gallery of Seotland.
Consult: his "Autobiography," in Art -Journal (London, 1849) ; Gilchrist, Life of II'. Etty (LOndon, 1855) ; Cosmo Slonkhouse, "Etty," Dictionary of National Biography (London, 1889).