Henry Perlee Parker
Encyclopedia
Henry Perlee Parker was an English artist, known as a history painter.
on 15 March 1795. He was trained by his father, but felt cramped in his occupation; in 1815 he married a Miss Amy Morfey of Woodbridge, Suffolk
, and set up as a portrait-painter in the Three Towns
. He met with little success, migrated to the north, and in 1816 settled at Newcastle upon Tyne
.
He made his mark on Tyneside by a picture of Newcastle Eccentrics, representing a group of well-known characters identified with the street life of the town. In 1817 he began exhibiting in London at the British Institution
, and shortly afterwards made the acquaintance of Thomas Miles Richardson
. They set up in 1822 ‘The Northumberland Institution for the Promotion of the Fine Arts,’ of which Richardson was treasurer and Parker secretary.
He was appointed drawing-master at Wesley College, Sheffield
, and left Newcastle, shortly after 1840. On the death of his first wife in 1844 he settled in London, and, having remarried, survived his second wife, and died on 11 November 1873. He had issue fourteen children.
in 1838, also formed the subjects of popular pictures by Parker.
In 1835 Parker issued ‘Critiques on Paintings by H. P. Parker … together with a few slight Etchings showing the Compositions,’ &c., Newcastle. In 1840 he presented a representation of the rescue of John Wesley
from the fire at Epworth in 1709 to the Wesleyan conference, to be placed in the Centenary Hall, London. Between 1817 and 1863 Parker exhibited eighty-six pictures in London, of which twenty-three were in the Royal Academy
.
Life
The son of Robert Parker, of Plymouth Dock, a teacher of marine and mechanical drawing, was born at DevonportDevonport, Devon
Devonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. It became a county borough in 1889...
on 15 March 1795. He was trained by his father, but felt cramped in his occupation; in 1815 he married a Miss Amy Morfey of Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
, and set up as a portrait-painter in the Three Towns
Three Towns
The Three Towns is a term used to refer to the neighbouring towns of Plymouth, Devonport and East Stonehouse in the county of Devon, England. They were formally merged in 1914 to become the Borough of Plymouth. In 1928, the Borough was granted City status by Royal Charter.-Notes:...
. He met with little success, migrated to the north, and in 1816 settled at Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
He made his mark on Tyneside by a picture of Newcastle Eccentrics, representing a group of well-known characters identified with the street life of the town. In 1817 he began exhibiting in London at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
, and shortly afterwards made the acquaintance of Thomas Miles Richardson
Thomas Miles Richardson
-Life:He was born at Newcastle on 15 May 1784. His father, George Richardson was the master of St. Andrew's grammar school, Newcastle; Moses Aaron Richardson was a younger brother....
. They set up in 1822 ‘The Northumberland Institution for the Promotion of the Fine Arts,’ of which Richardson was treasurer and Parker secretary.
He was appointed drawing-master at Wesley College, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and left Newcastle, shortly after 1840. On the death of his first wife in 1844 he settled in London, and, having remarried, survived his second wife, and died on 11 November 1873. He had issue fourteen children.
Works
He did not confine himself to portraits, but painted historical and marine subjects, and excelled in smugglers, whence the sobriquet ‘Smuggler Parker.’ His pictures sold well. Two large pieces, ‘The Sandhill Wine Pant—coronation of George IV,’ and ‘Fancy Dress Ball in the Mansion House—coronation of William IV,’ were purchased by the corporation of Newcastle. The opening of the new markets at Newcastle in 1835, and the brave deed of Grace DarlingGrace Darling
Grace Horsley Darling was an English Victorian heroine who in 1838, along with her father, saved 13 people from the wreck of the SS Forfarshire.-Biography:...
in 1838, also formed the subjects of popular pictures by Parker.
In 1835 Parker issued ‘Critiques on Paintings by H. P. Parker … together with a few slight Etchings showing the Compositions,’ &c., Newcastle. In 1840 he presented a representation of the rescue of John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
from the fire at Epworth in 1709 to the Wesleyan conference, to be placed in the Centenary Hall, London. Between 1817 and 1863 Parker exhibited eighty-six pictures in London, of which twenty-three were in the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
.