Nathan Drake (artist)
Encyclopedia
Nathan Drake was an English artist and a fellow of the Society of Artists
.
of St Mary's, Nottingham. He was apprenticed to his uncle, a cabinetmaker in York, where he appears to have settled in 1752 and spent much of the rest of his life.
It is not known where he studied to be an artist. He worked as a portrait, landscape, topographical and sporting painter, and has been called "the archetypal painter of the provincial sporting scene". His hunting scenes often include a view of a country house, an example being William Tufnell and his Hounds at Nun Monkton Priory, York (signed and dated 1769; priv. col.).
In 1771 Drake was elected a fellow of the Society of Artists
and two years later exhibited with the society.
John Ingamells states that "After [1756] Drake then ‘met with little encouragement and was more successful in miniature’ and a miniature signed ND (now in York Art Gallery)
of an unknown man is probably by him".
His topographical subjects, such as The Newport Arch, include groups of figures recalling Canaletto
or Samuel Scott. Drake's portraits are few, but there is a small signed oil of a Sportsman (London, Apsley House
, Wellington Mus.). Several of his views, as well as his illustrations to James Thomson's The Seasons, were engraved.
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
.
Biography
Drake was the son of the Rev. Samuel Drake, rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St Mary's, Nottingham. He was apprenticed to his uncle, a cabinetmaker in York, where he appears to have settled in 1752 and spent much of the rest of his life.
It is not known where he studied to be an artist. He worked as a portrait, landscape, topographical and sporting painter, and has been called "the archetypal painter of the provincial sporting scene". His hunting scenes often include a view of a country house, an example being William Tufnell and his Hounds at Nun Monkton Priory, York (signed and dated 1769; priv. col.).
In 1771 Drake was elected a fellow of the Society of Artists
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
and two years later exhibited with the society.
Works
Some of his better know works are:- View of Boston (Lincolnshire), engraved by J. S. Muller in 1751—This is his earliest known work.
- A view Newport Arch, Lincoln (1751?) is in the Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln
- The South East View of the City of York was engraved on copper by Charles Grignion and published in 1756 under the title The Prospect of a Noble Terras Walk—This work has been called "undoubtedly the most ambitious graphic representation of York produced in the middle years of the eighteenth century". Two original paintings of this scene are in the York Art GalleryYork Art Gallerythumb|right|York Art Gallery and statue of William Etty, by Stanley HoweYork Art Gallery in York, North Yorkshire, England is a public art gallery with a collection of paintings, from 14th century to contemporary, and 20th-century ceramics...
. - Francis Drake (1756), was engraved in mezzotintMezzotintMezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple...
by Valentine Green in 1771—Francis DrakeFrancis Drake (antiquary)Francis Drake was an English antiquary and surgeon, best known as the author of an influential history of York, which he entitled Eboracum after the Roman name for the city.- Early life :...
(1696–1771) was an antiquarian and remote relative. The painting is in York Art Gallery.
John Ingamells states that "After [1756] Drake then ‘met with little encouragement and was more successful in miniature’ and a miniature signed ND (now in York Art Gallery)
of an unknown man is probably by him".
His topographical subjects, such as The Newport Arch, include groups of figures recalling Canaletto
Canaletto
Giovanni Antonio Canal better known as Canaletto , was a Venetian painter famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice. He was also an important printmaker in etching.- Early career :...
or Samuel Scott. Drake's portraits are few, but there is a small signed oil of a Sportsman (London, Apsley House
Apsley House
Apsley House, also known as Number One, London, is the former London residence of the Dukes of Wellington. It stands alone at Hyde Park Corner, on the south-east corner of Hyde Park, facing south towards the busy traffic interchange and Wellington Arch...
, Wellington Mus.). Several of his views, as well as his illustrations to James Thomson's The Seasons, were engraved.
Family
Drake married Martha Carr at St Michael-le-Belfrey in York. They moved into Precentor's Court, York, which became their family home. It was there that their two sons were born:- Nathan (1766–1836), a physician and essayist;
- Richard (b. 1767), a surgeon.