Robert Strange (engraver)
Sir Robert Strange (14 July 1721 – 5 July 1792) was a Scottish
Early life
The eldest son of David Strang of Kirkwall in Orkney, by his second wife Jean, daughter of Malcolm Scollay of Hunton, he was born at Kirkwall on 14 July 1721. He entered the office of a brother, a lawyer in Edinburgh. He then was apprenticed to Richard Cooper, the elder, an engraver, for six years.[1]
Strange fought in the
Voluntary exile
After the amnesty Strange went to London and, carrying with him the Prince's seal, which had been left behind in Scotland, to Rouen, a centre of exiled Jacobites. There he studied anatomy under Claude-Nicolas Le Cat, and drawing under Jean-Baptiste Descamps. In 1749 he moved to Paris and placed himself under the engraver Jacques-Philippe Le Bas. There he learned drypoint and returned in 1750 to London.[1]
After a period of dealing in prints and working in London as engraver, Strange fell out with potential patrons at court, including
Strange went to Italy in 1760. His connections afforded him a passport for travel in France—this was the height of the
Later life
Back in London, Strange exhibited pictures which he had collected, and prepared critical and descriptive catalogues. In 1768, troubles in the
Strange wished to engrave
Death
Strange died at his house, No. 52 Great Queen Street,
Works
Strange published a portrait of the Young Pretender at the time of the 1745 rebellion. In France he engraved
Technically, Strange habitually employed drypoint, and was followed by
Family
Shortly before the Jacobite rising of 1745 Strange fell in love with Isabella, daughter of William Lumisden (who was son of Andrew Lumsden) and sister of Andrew Lumisden, a strong Jacobite supporter. In 1747 they were married clandestinely. Isabella's letters were published by James Dennistoun. She died in 1806.[1]
Of Strange's children, his eldest daughter Mary Bruce Strange (1748–1784) was artistic. His eldest son was James Charles Stuart Strange (1753–1840), a Member of Parliament.[5] Strange's second son was Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange. A third son, Robert Montagu, was major-general in the Madras army.[1]
Gallery
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Robert Strange, engraving by the artist himself after Jean-Baptiste Greuze
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Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender, 1745 engraving by Robert Strange
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Cleopatra, by Robert Strange (after Guido Reni), 1777
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 55. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26638. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24415. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, p. 28
- ^ Strange, James Charles Stuart (1753-1840), of Hertford Street, Mayfair, Mdx.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). "Strange, Robert". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 55. London: Smith, Elder & Co.