John Ellys
John Ellys or Ellis (March 1701 – 14 September 1757) was an English portrait-painter.
Life
Ellys was born in March 1701. When he was about fifteen years old, he was placed for instruction under
Sir James Thornhill. After a short time he took instruction under Johann Rudolph Schmutz; he also remained under Schmutz only a short time. He subsequently became an imitator of John Vanderbank and was a student with William Hogarth and others in the academy that Louis Chéron and Vanderbank founded in October 1720 in St Martin's Lane. After a few years Ellys and Hogarth succeeded to the directorship of this St Martin's Lane Academy
, and maintained their connection with it for about thirty years.
When he was still young Ellys obtained a warrant to copy pictures in the royal palaces for study, and copied several pictures by
Hermitage Gallery. For his services Walpole rewarded Ellys with the sinecure of master keeper of the lions in the Tower
, which Ellys retained until his death.
In October 1736 Ellys succeeded
Royal Academy
was established by royal decree in 1768.
Works
Hester Booth
as a harlequin, by John EllysA 1727 Ellys portrait of Lord Whitworth and his nephew was at
.References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Ellys.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Ellys, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
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