This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... RICHARD ANSDELL, R.A. One of the most celebrated of the Liverpool artists was Richard Ansdell, born in Liverpool on 11th May 1815, and educated at the local Blue-coat School. Of his father, little seems to be known, but his grandfather was the owner of saltworks near Northwich. He did not begin to study Art seriously until his twenty-first year; but within a comparatively short time, by 1840, we find him exhibiting two pictures, "Grouseshooting " and "A Galloway Farm," at the Royal Academy; and in 1842, his picture of "The Death of Sir William Lambton," a scene at Marston Moor, with a highly impressive study of a dying horse, won for him considerable notice. Two other successful early pictures by him represented the coursing meet at Aintree, in which portraits of all the leading men were introduced, as well as the dogs and horses; and a portrait of the Earl of Sefton with his horse, in which, howsi ever, there is some reason to suppose that Philip Westcott may have painted the head. The former picture was engraved after exhibition at the Royal Academy. "The Battle of the Standard," exhibited about the same time, brought Ansdell into public favour, and he was induced to leave Liverpool and come to London. He was warmly taken up by the artists of the day, and was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1861, and an R.A. in 1870. His career in London was entirely successful, the average price fetched by his works between 1861 and 1884 being given as 750. A picture of St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, which came into Baron Grant's possession, fetched no less than 1410, 10s., when his collection was dispersed. Between 1857 and 1860, Ansdell travelled in Spain with John DEGREESPhilip, R.A., and the two painted a number of Spanish...