Mr. Woodburn, when living supposed to be the first judge in matters relating to ancient art, once lived in this house. He died in 1854. The staircases still bear proof of the residence of these artists here.
Captain Corbet, a comrade of St. Vincent, lived at No. 19; Ozias Humphry at 13; Maurice Morgann, opposite Sloane Street, John Taylor, the singer, Paul Bedford (for several years at 18), Mr. Justice Burton, and Mr. McCarthy, the sculptor, at 17—were all residents of High Row. Of these, Humphry will be noticed here. He was born at Honiton in 1742; and early evincing a taste for drawing, was taken from the Grammar School of his native town and sent to London, where he prosecuted his studies most assiduously. Having, after two years’ stay, been compelled to return through the death of his father, he engaged himself to Mr. Collins, a miniature painter at Bath. But in 1763, by the advice of Reynolds, he returned to London, and was brought under public notice through his auspices. For some years he practised with increasing success, and in 1773 set out for Italy with Romney; he returned in September, 1777, and his fame rapidly increased. Miniatures he had chiefly devoted himself to, but now he turned to full-portrait painting, to which Hayley in his poem addressed to Romney refers:—
“Thy graces, Humphry, and thy colours clear,
From miniatures’ small circle disappear:
May their distinguished merit still prevail,
And shine with lustre on the larger scale.”
In 1785 he sailed for India; but the climate compelling him to return before he had attained his object, he, in 1789, again exhibited in London, confirming his former reputation, and next year he was elected R.A. He was employed to paint a series of original portraits of the Sackvilles by the Duke of Dorset; but ere he had completed them his sight failed him, and though various attempts were made to pursue his art, they were unsuccessful, and he was compelled to terminate his professional career.
Humphry was held in high estimation by some of the greatest men of his time; by Reynolds, Hastings, and Sir W. Jones. He is one of the heroes, too, of Boswell’s inimitable biography: Johnson placed under his care his godson, “a son of Mr. Paterson, eminent for his knowledge of books.” As an artist, though he suffered many disadvantages, he ranked high; as a man of moral worth, and kind affections, he was “zealous in good offices, and strenuous in his efforts for rising genius;” and it was to him Dr. Walcot first introduced Opie.
Besides the poetic niche of Hayley, Owen Cambridge mentions him—
“But, Humphry, by whom shall your labours be told,
How your colours enliven the young and the old?”
And Cumberland likewise—
“Crown’d with fresh roses, grateful Humphry stands,
While beauty grows immortal from his hands.”
Humphry resided several years in Knightsbridge; he died at 13, High Row, March 9th, 1810, and was buried in St. James’ Chapel ground, Hampstead Road. [117]