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From Edwards Anecdotes
of Painters 1808.
Mauritius Lowe
whether considered as an artist, or as a man is not very deserving
the notice of the biographer, but, as he was the person who
obtained the gold medal first offered by the Royal Academy
to the student who should produce the best historical picture,
he cannot be passed over in silence. He was the pupil of Mr.
Cipriani, but improved little under his tuition. He was also
admitted a student of the Royal Academy among the first of
those who entered that institution. In this situation he made
very slender advances in art, being too indolent and inattentive
to his studies to attain any excellence. His character is
rather favourably described in the following paragraph which
appeared in one of the public papers soon after his death
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"A
few days ago, at an obscure lodging at Westminster, Mauritius
Lowe, a painter of considerable eminence in his profession at
starting, being the person of the Royal Academy first sent to
Italy to paint a picture according to one of the articles of
their institution; but being of a debauched habit of mind he
painted no picture at Rome but disipated his time to no purpose.
He was a natural son of the late Lord Sutherland, from whom
he had an annuity. He was much esteemed by Dr. Johnson who bequeathed
him a legacy and stood to one of his children as godfather.
Some of his conversations are recorded in Jimmy Boswells book.
He was a person of elegant education and agreeable address."
This
account like most of the obituary anecdotes in the public papers
is partly true and partly false. It must be allowed that Mr.
Lowe's conduct while at Rome, to which place he was sent by
the Royal Academy in 1771 is justly described, but his being
esteemed by Dr. Johnson is extraordinary for Mr. Lowe's morals
and religious or rather irreligious principles must have been
very artfully concealed, or he never could have acquired so
much of Dr Johnsons good opinion as he certainly possessed.
It must also be observed that the legacy was left not to Mr.
Lowe, but to his child who was the Doctor's godson. Of the elegance
of his education, or of his agreeable address, it would be difficult
to produce any favourable proof. It has been said that he was
for a short time at Westminster school, if so he acquired a
very slender portion of improvement from that seminary. Mr.
Lowe, in his person, was rather below the middle size but well
made, his features much injured the small pox and farther disfigured
by the want of an eye, which he lost in infancy, and as he himself
said by the neglect of his parents.
As an artist his abilities were very slender nor did he ever
produce any works worthy of notice, except a long drawing of
Homer reciting his Ilead to the Greeks, the principal figures
about nine inches high but this was rather sketch than a finished
drawing.
If it be asked how Mr. Lowe though deficient as an artist could
obtain the medal? It may with truth be said that he owed his
success to the partiality of the Italian Gentlemen members of
the academy who voted for him at the solicitation of Mr. Barretti,
for whom Mr. Lowe had been a very favourable evidence on his
trial in the year 1769.
The other candidates upon this occasion were |
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Mr. Wm. Parry
Mr. Jas. Durno
Mr. Wm. Bell of new Castle upon Tyne and the author of these
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anecdotes;
who would be suspected of partiality were he to attempt any
further comments upon the circumstance then that of remarking
that Mr. Durno's picture possessed infinitely more merit than
that of Mr. Lowe's.
The subject given for the picture was Time Discovering Truth
with two other figures - [es]my and detraction. The size a half
length canvas.
From the Sun. September 19, 1795.
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Note:
This was among papers which came from the Crawford family
home, Brookside. Could this Mauritius be the father of our
John Lowe? Research has turned up nothing on the origins of
John Lowe. He was said to be the brother of Sir Hudson Lowe,
but the researcher in England, Edward Lowe, was unable to
find anything on his origins. L. Downey
Notes: A "natural son of Lord Sutherland; i.e. illegitimate.
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His son a godchild
of esteemed Dr. Johnson
Dr Johnson left the son a legacy. Is this Dr Samuel Johnson?
Jimmy Boswell’s book ‘ conversation with Mauritius’ ???
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Would
this be Boswell’s book on Dr Samuel Johnson? |
| John
LOWE: In the "Case & Conduct". . Letter, 1 Feb
1812, signed W.S. . |
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"my
solicitude in favour of a very young man, bequeathed, in some
degree, to my notice, by Doctor Johnson, and, who has a
wife and family to plead for him . . . |
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