GRANT, Sir FRANcrs (1803-78). -A Scotch portrait painter. He was born in Edinburgh, January 1S, 1803, and received his education at the Harrow School, with the intention of enter ing the bar. In 1828 he relinquished his profes sion and began painting. His only art instruc tion consisted of twelve drawing lessons from the human figure, his chief knowledge having been gained by copying the works of Velazquez and other great masters. He became a fashionable portrait painter of his day, painting Queen Vic toria, the Prince Consort, and many other well known personages. His portraits are character ized by elegance and refinement rather than by individuality and character. In 1851 he was elected member of the Royal Academy; in 1866, president, soon after receiving the honor of knighthood. He died at Melton Mowbray, Octo ber 5, 1878.
There are 253 paintings recorded from 1834 till his death. The most important are as follows: "Breakfast Scene at Melton" •1831-34) ; "His Majesty's Staghounds on Ascot Heath" (1837), owned by the Earl of Chesterfield; "Melton Hunt" (1839), owned by the Duke of Wellington; "A Shooting Party at Rawton Abbey," owned by the Earl of Lichfield; "The Cottesmore Hunt" (1848) ; "Queen Victoria Riding with Lord Mel bourne and Others in the Windsor Park" (1840) ; "Lady Glenlyon" (1842) ; an equestrian portrait of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, in Christ's Hospital, London; "Duke and Duchess of Beaufort ;" "Earl Russell ;" "Earl of Beacons field;" "Dr. Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury;"
"Marchioness of Waterford;" "Dr. Moberly, Bishop of Salisbury." In the National Portrait Gallery, London, there is a study for a portrait of Lord Macaulay, and a pen-and-ink sketch of Sir Edwin Landseer, and in the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, a portrait of Sir Walter Scott.