Fielding, ANTHONY VANDYKE CPLEY,

Fielding, ANTHONY VANDYKE CPLEY, water-colour painter, was born in 1787. He came of an artistic family, for his father, T. N. Fielding, was a portrait-painter residing near Halifax, his mother became a member of the Water-colour Society, and three of his brothers were painters in the same medium. He received his early instruction at home before being placed under John Varley; and, like Turner and Girtin, he worked in the house of Dr Monro. In 1810 he began to exhibit with the Water-colour Society, of which he was successively treasurer and secretary; and in 1831 he succeeded Cristall as president. In one year he contributed to the exhibition of the society no fewer than 56 subjects, occasionally, in addition, sending an oil-picture to the Royal Academy. His early works show breadth, freedom of treatment, and a fine sense of atmosphere; but in later life the quality of his art deteriorated, greatly in consequence of the facile methods and mannerisms—such as the excessive use of sponging and washing—which his practice as a fashionable teacher of painting had led him to adopt. He died at Worthing, 3d March 1855. His art may be adequately studied in the South Kensington Museum.