British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - D

A selective directory, to be revised regularly, 1st edition 2006, 2nd edition 2008, 3rd edition October 2011 (*revised entry, **new entry). Contributions and corrections are welcome, to Jacob Simon at jsimon@npg.org.uk.

Resources and bibliography Introduction

Daler-Rowney Ltd, see Rowney

*Matthew Darly, various addresses before moving to 39 Strand (opposite New Round Court) 1766-1780, 159 Fleet St 1780-1781. Engraver and teacher of engraving, printseller, paper hanging manufacturer, artists' colourman.

Matthew Darly (c.1720-78?), also known as Matthias Darley, made many engravings of furnishings, ornament and architecture, including plates for Chippendale's The Director, 1754-62, and also produced numerous caricatures. He advertised his ‘Manufactory for Paper Hangings’ (trade card, Banks coll.). In 1766 he moved to 39 Strand, the shop depicted in The Macaroni Print Shop (1772), where he and his wife Mary sold caricatures and other engravings, and also supplied materials for artists and amateurs, including 'transparent colours for staining drawings' in 1776 (Hardie 1967 p.17), and the following year all sorts of materials used in the polite arts of drawing and engraving, including ‘prepared Papers, Chalks, Copper-plates, Black lead Pencils… transparent Colours, &c’ (Public Advertiser 9 January 1777). He also advertised ‘Foreign and English Colours dry or prepared in Pots, Creyons, or drops &c… Black Lead, Red Chalk, and other drawing Pencils. Italian, French, Black, Red and White Chalks. Silver, Steel and Brass portcreyons’, as well as many other materials (broadside, said to date to c.1776, repr. Ken Spelman, cat.no.65, November 2008, no.72). Darly may have died in 1778, the business being carried on by his wife for a few years.

Darly’s satirical engraved self-portrait dates to 1771 (example, National Portrait Gallery).

Sources: Christopher Gilbert, ‘The Early Furniture Designs of Matthias Darly’, Furniture History vol.11, 1975, pp.33-9; Christopher Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, pp.5-7; Ian Maxted, The London Book Trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members at http://bookhistory.blogspot.com/2005/12/index.html ; Timothy Clayton, ‘Darly, Matthew (c.1720-1778?)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004. For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

Charles Davis 1763-1784 or later, Charles Davis & Son to 1794, Charles Davis junr from 1794. At the Golden Boy, Horse St, Bath 1763-1764 or later, Garrard St c.1777, Westgate St c.1777-1784 or later, 2 Westgate Buildings by 1789-1794. Painters and artists’ colourmen.

Charles Davis advertised as a coach, sign and house painter, and as a supplier and gilder of picture frames (Boddely’s Bath Journal 30 April 1764, see Sloman 2002 pp.66, 231n). In 1763 he was offering watercolours in shells, palettes and palette knives, oils and colours, best London brushes and primed canvas (William Whitley, Thomas Gainsborough, 1915, p.93). In 1777 he announced that he had removed from Garrard St to Westgate St where he sold ‘all sorts of best colours, dry or prepared in oil or water, primed cloths, tools, pencils, pallets, pallet knives, easels & straining frames, crayons, drawing papers, Italian black, white & red chalk… and every article that is used in painting and drawing’ (Bath Chronicle 7 August 1777, as quoted in the Whitley papers vol.3 p.283). He was recorded as a painter and colourman in 1783 (Bailey’s Western Midlands directory).

The partnership, Charles Davis & Son, at 2 Westgate Buildings, was dissolved on 5 January 1794, and the business continued by Charles Davis junr, who advertised funerary achievements, pictures cleaned, lined & repaired, colours and oils for house painting, gold leaf etc (Bath Chronicle 20 February 1794). Westgate Buildings was a favourite address for Bath artists in the last two decades of the 18th century, and hence a good location for a colourman; in addition to Thomas Beach and Robert Edge Pine, a number of lesser-known painters worked there (see Susan Sloman, 'Artists' Picture Rooms in 18th-Century Bath', Bath History, vol.6, 1996, p.149).

For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

James Davis, 4 Wilson St, Drury Lane, London by 1859-1875. Artists’ colour box manufacturer 1861-1875, previously listed as a tinplate worker.

Recorded at 4 Wilson St in the 1861 census as a tinplate worker, age 41, with wife and four children, the older sons, ages 17 and 15, also described as tinplate workers.

Robert Davis, 35 Chenies Mews, Bedford Square, London WC 1857-1870, also 36 Chenies Mews 1861-1870, 10 Huntley St, Tottenham Court Road 1858-1870. Artists’ colourman, subsequently a cab proprietor.

Robert Davis (b. c.1824) would appear to be the individual recorded in the 1851 census as artists' colourman, age 29, at 8 Old Chapel Road, Kentish Town. He was listed in 1857 as artists’ canvas primer and subsequently as artists’ colourman in Chenies Mews and Huntley St. These two roads run parallel to each other and it has been suggested that Huntley may have occupied adjoining properties (Proudlove 1996). The premises at 35 Chenies Mews had been occupied by Robert Rawcliffe (qv) until 1854. By 1871 Davis was listed at 10 Huntley St as a cab proprietor, with his age given as 47 in the 1871 census. Subsequently, the premises in Chenies Mews were occupied in 1871 and 1872 by John Locker, artists’ colourman, and by Arthur Rayner (qv) from 1873.

Many marked canvases have been recorded, from as early as 1856 (an early example repr. Proudlove 1996).

Sources: Proudlove 1996. For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

 *Robert Davy by 1811-1843, Charles Davy 1843-1863. At 16 Wardour St, London by 1811-1823, 83 Newman St 1822-1862, 85 Newman St 1863. Artists’ colourmen, carvers and gilders, picture restorers.

Robert Davy (c.1771-1843?) claimed to have established his business in 1799, according to his label, which is often found on the back of his prepared panels for artists. However, he is not found in directories before 1811, when described as a carver and gilder. He supplied picture frames for Paxton House, Berwickshire, in 1814 (National Archives of Scotland, GD267/4/1, Home-Robertson papers). He took out insurance with the Sun Fire Office as a carver and gilder from 16 Wardour St in 1821 (Guildhall Library, Records of Sun Fire Office, vol.488 no.980758). He was also listed as a picture restorer in directories in 1819 and 1827.

By 1825 Davy’s special interest in panels and millboards is apparent from his Post Office directory listing as ‘Prepared Pannel & Mill-board manufacturer & Artists’ colourman, Frame-maker, &c’. The same year he attended a meeting of more than fifty master carvers and gilders who resolved to resist the demands of journeymen for an increase in wages (The Times 30 June 1825). He had an account for purchasing items from the artists’ colourman, Roberson, 1828-39 (Woodcock 1997), but what is probably more significant is his role as a supplier of numerous panels and millboards to Roberson. He was recorded in Newman St in the 1841 census as Robert Davy, Artists Colourman, age 70 (ages were rounded down to the nearest five in this census), living with Ann Davy, also age 70, and Jane Davy, age 35. He is probably the Robert Davy, age 72, of 39 Devonshire St, who was buried in Kensal Green cemetery in October 1843.

Charles Davy (?1800-1872?) succeeded his father at 83 Newman St in 1843; his label made the claim that the business had been founded in 1795. He would appear to have been born in January 1800 and christened at St Clement Danes, the son of Robert Davy and Ann Frances, and to have married Hannah Hopkins in 1825. He was described as a gilder when his son, Charles Robert, was christened in 1827, the first of seven sons and one daughter. He was recorded at 83 Newman St in the 1851 census as Artists Colourman, age 51, with wife Hannah, age 48, and three sons, Charles Robert, Richard and Jacob, ages 23, 19 and 17, working in the business as journeyman, apprentice and shopman respectively; there were five other younger children or nephews in the house. In 1851 Davy was subject to bankruptcy proceedings along with two other partners, William Wright and Jacob Dixon, in a goldsmiths’ and jewellers’ business (London Gazette 18 March 1851).

In 1859 and 1860 Charles Davy was advertising lay figures, new and second-hand, for sale or hire (The Times 27 May 1859, 24 October 1860). In April 1862 a sale was held of his collection of more than 400 pictures by old and modern masters, together with a lay figure, easels and various picture frames (The Times 4 April 1862). He was last listed as an artists’ colourman in 1863. Charles Davy, or more probably his son, Charles Robert Davy, may have been the artist of this name at 14 Russell Place, Fitzroy Square in 1864, who appears as a restorer of paintings at this address in 1865 and 1866, and at 21 Fitzroy St from 1867 until 1871.

Artists using Davy’s materials: Robert and Charles Davy’s labels for their ‘genuine flemish grounds on panel and millboards’ claimed the patronage of Thomas Lawrence, President of the Royal Academy. Robert Davy’s panels and boards were widely used, including by Landseer, Turner and Clarkson Stanfield, lending some credence to his claim to supply the Royal Academy (Proudlove 1996). His panels were also used by Norwich School artists, such as J.S. Cotman and Joseph Clover (Proudlove 1988 p.153).

From 1816, John Linnell began to use Davy’s panels extensively as his account books reveal (Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 20 & 21-2000). In 1818, he purchased 14 prepared panels at a cost of £1.4s.6d, and over the two following years he bought panels etc to the value of £18.9s.8d. He continued to purchase panels until 1833, subsequently turning to Thomas Brown (qv). Works on supports marked with Robert Davy’s Wardour St address include Linnell's 7th Earl of Denbigh, 1821 (private coll.), Robert Ogle as a boy, 1822 (Sotheby's 12 June 2003 lot 81), Madame de Wouters, 1827 (Christie’s 9 December 2009 lot 242, panel impressed 16 Wardour St) and his Woodcutters in Windsor Forest, exh.1835, based on a work of c.1816 (Tate). William Blake’s panel, The Virgin and Child, ?1825, is also on a support with the Wardour St address (Yale Center for British Art, repr. Townsend 2003 p.133).

Examples from the 1820s with Davy’s Newman St address include James Atkinson’s Earl of Minto, c.1822-30 (National Portrait Gallery), George Hayter’s 2nd Earl of Liverpool, 1823 (National Portrait Gallery, see Walker 1985 p.318), Edwin Landseer’s Sir Walter Scott, c.1824 (National Portrait Gallery, see Walker 1985 p.439) and Taking the Deer: the Duke of Atholl with Foresters, 1820s (Sudley, see Bennett 1971) and George Richmond’s The Creation of Light, 1826 (Tate, see Townsend 2003 p.145). Landseer’s Scott had the label, now kept separately: The only Manufactory for/ Genuine Flemish Grounds/ ON PANEL & MILL BOARD,/ PATRONIZED BY/ SIR THOS. LAWRENCE,/ President of the Royal Academy,/ ESTABLISHED 1795,/ R. DAVY,/ Colourman to Artists, / 83, Newman Street, London./ Davy, Printer, 41, James-st. Oxford-st.

James Atkinson’s Earl of Minto is labelled: THE ONLY MANUFACTORY FOR/ GENUINE FLEMISH GROUNDS/ ON PANEL AND MILLBOARDS,/ Patronised by Sir Thos. Lawrence,/ President of the Royal Academy,/ ESTABLISHED 1799,/ BY R. DAVY,/ COLOURMAN TO ARTISTS, / 83 Newman Street, London./ Improved Oil Grounds,/ On Panel and Millboards, to any tint or texture/ with every requisite for Oil Painting/ of the best quality (National Portrait Gallery). An example of their labelled millboard, apparently exported to Belgium, is Barthelemy Viellevoye’s A brother and sister at the spinet, 1827 (with John Mitchell Fine Paintings, 2011).

Robert Davy's millboards, ranging in size from 6x10 ins to 14.5x19 ins, were frequently used by Richard Parkes Bonington, including his Ships at anchor, Dieppe, c.1825 (Sudley House, National Museums Liverpool), View on the Seine, c.1825 (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), A Wooded Lane, c.1825 and Barges on a River, c.1825-6 (both Yale Center for British Art), The Ducal Palace, Venice, with moored barges, 1826 (Cleveland Museum of Art), View in Venice, with San Giorgio Maggiore, 1826 (Huntington Art Collection) and Near Sarzana, Val di Magra, 1826 (National Gallery of Scotland). These works feature in Patrick Noon, Richard Parkes Bonington: the complete paintings, 2008, pp.38, 235, 238, 242, 288, 318, 326; see also p.216 (Davy's label from 83 Newman St).

Examples from the 1830s include John Linnell’s Mrs Anne Young, 1831 (Sotheby’s 22 March 2005 lot 71) and William Mulready, 1833, labelled: The only Manufactory for/ Genuine Flemish Grounds/ ON PANEL & MILL BOARD,/ PATRONIZED BY/ SIR THOS. LAWRENCE,/ President of the Royal Academy,/ ESTABLISHED 1795,/ R. DAVY,/ Colourman [to] Artists, / 83, Newman Street, London./ Davy, Printer, 80 Gilbert-st. Oxford-st. (National Portrait Gallery), two works by J.M.W. Turner, exh.1832 (Townsend 1993 p.21, Townsend 1994 p.148), Joseph B. Kidd’s Sharp Tailed Sparrow, c.1832 (National Gallery of Art, Washington, repr. Katlan 1992 p.459), and American Goldfinch, c.1831 (with William Reese Company, New Haven, 2005), William Clarkson Stanfield’s Orford, 1833 (Wallace Collection, see Ingamells 1985) and Ramsay Richard Reinagle’s Sir George Nicholls, 1834 (National Portrait Gallery).

Charles Davy’s panels and boards are less commonly found than his father’s; labelled examples include George Jones’s copy, Viscount Beresford (Cobbe coll., see Alastair Laing, Clerics & Connoisseurs, 2001, p.311) and Alfred Elmore’s The Smile: from Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies (Sir David and Lady Scott coll., Sotheby’s 19 November 2008 lot 66). His canvas mark can be found on a copy after Michael Dahl’s Sir John Pratt (National Portrait Gallery), stencilled: C. DAVY./ ARTISTS COLOURMAN./ 83 NEWMAN STREET./ OXFORD ST., LONDON. and on Daniel Maclise’s The Scottish Lovers, 1863, stencilled: C. DAVY/ ARTISTS' COLOURS/ OXFORD St., LONDON./ Established 1795. (Chazen Museum, University of Wisconsin-Madison, information from Joan Gorman, 14 February 2008).

Sources: Proudlove 1996 (repr. an example of R. Davy’s label, post-1830). For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

Thomas Day (c.1733-1807). Painter and restorer.

Thomas Day prepared vehicles for painting and varnishes, according to his widow in 1808. He was sometimes known as ‘MacGilp’ Day (Farington vol.9, p.3305). A number of individuals by the name of Thomas Day appear in directory listings.

Sources: Waterhouse 1981. For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

**William Day, 12 Middle Row, Holborn Bars, London 1837-1842, 90½ Holborn Hill 1844-1846. Supplier of watercolours and pencils, subsequently bookbinders’ tool cutter, and stationer, engraver, printer and bookseller.

William Day’s uncle, the blacking manufacturer Charles Day, died in October 1836, making substantial bequests to each of his nephews and nieces, the sons and daughters of his sisters and his late brother William. Charles Day’s will was contested and was not proved until May 1840. It was perhaps with the knowledge of this legacy that William Day set up in business as a supplier of watercolours and pencils.

William Day advertised from 12 Middle Row, to artists, architects, surveyors and engineers, his drawing pencils and ‘his SUPERFINE WATER COLOURS, in whole, half, and quarter cakes, at very reduced prices;... The Colours have the impress, W. Day, Holborn: the Pencils, W. Day. 12, Middle Row, Holborn, without which none are genuine…‘, also giving an office address at 26 Lombard St and a manufactory at Upper Row, Deptford, which addresses seem to be associated with another business altogether (Civil engineer and architect's journal, October 1838, vol.1, following p.359). A mahogany watercolour box with label inside the lid, reads, ‘W. DAY'S SUPERFINE WATER COLOURS/ Warehouse No 12 Middle Row, Holborn Bars/ The greatest care is taken in grinding these colours, which are manufactured of the choisest materials and they are particularly recommended to Artists as superior to none that have hitherto been offered to them. W. DAY'S SUPERFINE DRAWING PENCIL'S made of the finest Cumberland lead and lettered according to their different degrees of hardness are confidently offered to the public as being a very superior article’ (information from Peter Tilley, 22 February 2011).

Day tried a number of related trades. In 1838, he advertised as a bookbinders’ tool cutter, printers’ brass ornament manufacturer and bookbinders' materials dealer, offering a new price list (Bent's Literary Advertiser, 1838, p.131, accessed through Google Book Search). He was listed as a bookbinders’ tool cutter in 1839 and subsequently (Pigot & Co’s London directory etc), as a wholesale plain and fancy stationer in 1840 and 1841 (Post Office London directory) and as an engraver in 1841 (Robson’s London directory). In December 1843, he was restrained by injunction from trading as a blacking manufactory for misrepresenting the manufactory to be that of Day & Martin, carried on by his late uncle, Charles Day (The Times 14 December 1843, 11 July 1844).

In 1846, as William Charles Day, he was imprisoned for debt (London Gazette 4 December 1846, 15 January 1847), when he was described as formerly of 12 Middle Row, Holborn, stationer, engraver, printer and bookseller, and late of 90½ Holborn Hill, first bookbinders' tool cutter, then carrying on business in partnership with Richard Martin as Day & Martin, blacking manufacturers.

*William De La Cour, The Iron Rails, Coventry Court, Haymarket, London by 1743-1745 or later, The Golden Head, Catherine St, Strand 1747, Mr Read’s, Grocer, The Ship, Great Russell St, Covent Garden 1752, The Green Door, Winchester St, New Broad St 1753, Ormonde Quay, Dublin 1753, College Green, Dublin from 1753, Edinburgh 1757-1767, Head of Toderick’s Wynd, Edinburgh 1759. Designer and engraver, portrait painter and scene painter, supplier of watercolours and crayons, drawing master.

William De La Cour (d.1767), also known as Delacour, was presumably of French origin. His first recorded work was his stage designs for G.B. Pescetti’s opera, Busiri, at the Kings Theatre in London in 1740. Between 1741 and 1747 he published a series of books of engraved ornament.

De La Cour issued an attractively engraved London trade card, said to date to c.1743, describing his activities. It is known in two versions giving different addresses, ‘De La Cour / AT THE IRON RAILS IN COUENTRY/ Court Hay Markett/ ST: JAMES'S’/ Sells the most Beautifull Crayons of/ A particular Composition, the Best of/ Water Colours, Lead & hair Pencils, Indian/ Ink, Prints & Drawings Old & new,/ Ornaments Landscapes History &c./ He also Designs for all Sorts of/ Trades, & teaches to Draw & Paint in/ Water Colours & Crayons to Gentleman & Ladies both at Home/ or a Broad/ R White scu’ (Heal coll. 89.46); a later version, exactly as above but the address reading, ‘At the Golden Head in Katherine Street/ in the Strand: opposite/ Mr.Walsh’s Musik shop’ (Heal coll. 89.45, repr. Ayers 1985, p.103, Banks coll. 89.5).

It was from the address in Coventry Court that De La Cour advertised in 1743, ‘a great Choice of very fine Pastels or Crayons, of the most beautiful and useful Colours… and can be made Use of either on Paper or in Oil Preparation lately found out by him’, later advertising the best watercolours (Daily Advertiser 26 April 1743, 26 December 1743). In 1747 an mezzotint of his portrait, Sir Thomas De Veil, was on sale from his premises in Catherine St. In 1753 he sold his household furniture, pictures, plate, china and linen, noting that he had been invited to establish an academy at Dublin (Public Advertiser 20 February 1753). In Edinburgh in 1760 he was appointed the first Master of the Trustees’ Drawing Academy. He is said to have died at a very old age. His posthumous sale in Edinburgh in 1767 included his blocks for grinding colours (Fraser-Harris, see Sources below).

Sources: Strickland 1913 p.272; D.F. Fraser-Harris, ‘William De la Cour: Painter, Engraver and Teacher of Drawing’, Scottish Bookman, vol.1, no.5, January 1936, pp.12-19; Croft-Murray 1962 pp.199-200; John Fleming, 'Enigma of a Rococo Artist', Country Life, vol.131, 1962, pp.1224-6; Waterhouse 1981. For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

Constant De Massoul, see Massoul & Co

**[Joseph] Derveaux, 18 Charles St, St James’s Square, London c.1789, 28 King St, Golden Square. Brush supplier.

This brush supplier is perhaps the Joseph Derveaux, widower, who married Mary Grime on 10 June 1778 at St Mary Marylebone, with witnesses, John Rouland and Margaret Smith (Publications of the Harleian Society‎, vol.51, 1921, p.41).

Derveaux, ‘who deals in Lyon’s tools & fitch pencils’ was referred to in a letter to James Rawlinson (qv) by Joseph Wright of Derby, who wished to acquire 12 dozen fitch pencils in different sizes. This letter probably dates to 1789 and gives Derveaux as residing at John Hoppner’s at 18 Charles St, although the address has been altered in another hand to 28 King St, Golden Square (Barker 2009 pp.130, 131n4, 189).

It is worth noting that Paris directories include entries for Barbe-Derveaux, fabricant de brosses et pinceaux a l’usage des peintures, rue Beaubourg 44, in 1811, and for Lechertier-Derveaux as brushmakers at the same address in 1816 and 1820 (Almanach du commerce de Paris and Almanach des 25000 adresses de Paris pour 1816, accessed through Google Book Search). More research is needed but at the very least these references reinforce the tradition that Lechertier Barbe (qv) was an old established firm of Paris brushmakers, and at most could link this business to the Derveaux active in London in 1789.

It is also worth noting that there was a Derveaux who was reputed to be the best artists’ colourman in Europe, sufficiently well-known for William Etty to seek him out on his first visit to Paris in 1815; Etty described him as ‘up three pairs of stairs in one of the dirtiest holes in Paris with two or three dogs, and some birds, and last not least his son and wife who materially aid and assist him.’ (Max Wykes-Joyce, ‘William Etty’, Arts Review, 18 January 1969 p.13).

For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

**Helena de Wet, Edinburgh 1688.

In two letters, one in Dutch, Helena de Wet, wife of the painter, Jacob de Wet (1640­-97), wrote concerning the supply of colours and panels to Sir William Bruce, enclosing two lists of prices of colours in August 1688 (National Archives of Scotland, GD29/1999, Bruce of Kinross papers).

*William Dicker (active 1749, died 1777/8), Newport St, London. Artists’ colourman.

William Dicker of Newport St voted in the 1749 election (A Copy of the Poll Book for… Westminster, 1749, p.208). He was listed in Mortimer’s Universal Director, 1763, as opposite Newport Market. ‘The colour shop in New Port Street’ was referred to in Fanny Burney’s early correspondence (Whitley 1928, vol.1, p.332), but this reference remains to be clearly linked to Dicker. It was probably William Dicker who visited Bath in 1769 when he was described by the sculptor, Thomas Parsons, as 'Mr Dicker... an Oil and Colourman in Bloomsbury Square - seems to be a serious good Man' (Susan Sloman, 'An eighteenth-century stone carver's diary identified', The British Art Journal, vol.7, no.3, 2007, p.7).

William Dicker was dead by 16 January 1778, when his will was proved. In this will he referred to his son, Thomas, whom he described as having misapplied himself. Thomas Dicker traded in Little Newport St until 1771 when he assigned his estate and affects to his creditors and advertised that his business would be carried on by John Milbourne & Son, oilman of Compton St (Public Advertiser 21 November 1771). The death at Haverfordwest of Thomas Dicker, formerly a colourman in Newport St, was reported in 1787 (Gentleman’s Magazine, vol.57, 1787, p.936).

William Dickie (active 1781, died 1808), 120 Strand, London by 1790-1800. Stationer, pocketbook maker and bookseller.

It is said that most of J.M.W. Turner’s sketchbooks prior to 1807 were made up by William Dickie (Bower 1990 p.96; see also Peter Bower, 'Cornelius Varley's Use of Paper', in Cornelius Varley. The Art of Observation, Lowell Libson, 2005, p.49). However, it should be noted that Dickie was made bankrupt in 1795 and imprisoned for debt in 1804 (Maxted 1977, London Gazette 22 September 1795, 4 August 1804), and was reported to have ‘been confined nearly five years in the Fleet prison’ at the time of his death in 1808 (The Times 26 September 1808).

Dickie’s prospectus referred to stationary and account books ruled and annotated, wholesale and retail engraving and printing, improved travelling desks, copying machines and portable cases for writing, drawing or dressing, as well as bookbinding (repr. Bower 1990 p.95, giving a date of 1811).

It is not known whether William Dickie was related to an earlier oilman of this name of the parish of St Olave, Southwark, who was made bankrupt in 1742 (London Gazette 18 December 1742).

John Reed Dickinson (1844-1926?), see George Bowden

Charles White Dillon, see Rowney

Dimes & Co, Dimes & Elam, Frederick Dimes, see Cowen & Waring

Dod (active 1677-1681), The Queens Head, Cornhill, London. Linen draper.

Supplied canvas to Charles Beale, 1677, 1681 (Talley 1981 p.284); Beale also refers to ‘Mr Sprignell’, possibly Dod’s partner.

For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

James Dodsley, Pall Mall, London from 1759, 59 Pall Mall 1779-1788, 65 Pall Mall 1789-1797. Bookseller and publisher.

James Dodsley (1724-97) succeeded his better-known brother, Robert (1704-64), as owner of the firm of R. & J. Dodsley in 1759. He is not otherwise recorded as an artists’ supplier but in November 1767 he was approached by Thomas Gainsborough, writing from Bath, who requested some of the then quite new wove paper which he wished to use for wash drawings, taking advantage of the smooth finish of the paper (see John Hayes (ed.), The Letters of Thomas Gainsborough, 2001, pp.44-6).

Sources: Maxted 1977; James E. Tierney, ‘Dodsley, James (1724-1797)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004. For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

Aitken Dott 1842-1879, Aitken Dott & Son 1880-1984, Aitken Dott Ltd 1984-1988, Aitken Dott plc from 1988. At Lady Lawson St, Edinburgh 1842, 12 South St David St 1844-1847, 16 South St David St 1846-1863, 14-16 South St David St 1863-1874, 26 South Castle St or Castle St 1874-1982, 94 George St 1982-1993, 16 Dundas St, EH3 6HZ from 1993. Carvers and gilders, framemakers, artists’ colourmen, from the 1890s also fine art dealers.

Aitken Dott had an account with Roberson, 1852-1908, and is recorded in the Roberson ledgers as taking over the business of John Douglas Smith (qv) at 26 Castle St, 1887. In 1896 Aitken Dott & Son advertised as ‘Picture & Print Dealers, Carvers and Gilders, Artists’ Colourmen, Architects’ & Designers’ Warehousemen’ (The Year’s Art 1896). An agent for Cambridge colours, 1897, made by Madderton & Co Ltd (qv), Aitken Dott advertised in Madderton’s literature as ‘Artists’ Colourmen & Importers of French & German Materials’. For further details of this business, see British picture framemakers on the National Portrait Gallery website.

*Nathan Drake (active 1750, died 1787), The White Lyon, James St, Covent Garden, London by 1750-1759 or later, The White Hart, Long Acre by 1763-1777, 52 Long Acre 1774-1790. Artists' colourman.

Nathan Drake (d.1787) was a leading artists’ colourman from the 1750s to the 1780s. He was in James St in 1750 when recorded as a subscriber to John Werge’s A Collection of original poems, Stamford, 1750, and he was again recorded there the following year (Gentleman’s Magazine, vol.21, November 1751, p.527). He was sometimes described as Nathaniel Drake, as for example in 1751 and, when acting as an agent selling prints for Thomas Worlidge, painter in Bath, in 1757 (General Advertiser 27 November 1751, Daily Advertiser 26 April 1757, Public Advertiser 20 December 1757). He was said to have been elected a member of the Society of Arts, 1763 (Whitley 1928, vol.1, p.332), but his nomination, as Mr Nathan Drake, Colourman, was declined on 5 April 1763 (Royal Society of Arts, Manuscript Subscription Book, 1754-63, examined by Suzanna Walker). He was listed in Mortimer’s Universal Director, 1763, as Nathaniel Drake, Long Acre. By this time he had taken over the business of Robert Keating (qv), who had died in 1758.

In his will, made 17 January and proved 12 March 1787, Nathan Drake left a life interest in much of his estate to his wife, Jane, and then to his son Richard, and specifically permitted her to carry on his trade as colourman, which she may have done for a period since directory listings continue until 1790. A sale was advertised in March 1788 of his household furniture, plate, linen, china, pictures, prints and books (but not his stock-in-trade), to take place on his premises at 52 Long Acre (World 8 March 1788). His wife died the following year (General Evening Post 26 November 1789).

Drake is said by Whitley to have been probably related to Nathan Drake (1726-78), the York painter (Whitley 1928, vol.1, p.332); however his reference to the York painter giving Drake’s Long Acre premises as his contact address in the 1771 Society of Artists catalogue does not tally with the copy of this catalogue in the National Portrait Gallery library. Nor can the 'Mr Drake', who exhibited at the Free Society in 1783, using Vine St as his address, be linked with the artists' colourman.

Two trade cards in the name of Nathan Drake are known, the earlier perhaps dating to the 1750s, advertising from the White Lion, James St, near Long Acre, ‘Sells all sorts of Colours, Wholesale/ & Retail, As Indico’s, Smalts, Water/ Colours in Shells, & Liquids, Crayons/ … fine Prim’d Cloths…’ (Heal coll. 89.52); the later perhaps dating to the 1760s or 1770s, advertising his business as ‘Successor to/ Mr Robert Keating/ At the WHITE HART in LONG-ACRE;/ London./ Sells all sorts of fine colours & oils for painting/ Prym’d Cloths, Pencils fine Tools and Palletts;/ Water Colours prepared in the neatest manner/ Also Makes all sorts of Crayons in the best/ approved methods…/ NB: Keatings fine Varnish formerly Calld/ Coopers Picture Varnish…’ (Banks coll. 89.8; Heal coll. 89.51; Johnson Collection).

Drake received payments from Allan Ramsay on 24 April 1752 (£20), 17 March 1762 (£10), 11 April 1763 (£23), 6 April, 5 July and 1 September 1764 (£10 on each occasion), and 10 August 1765 (£16) (Ramsay bank account). As Nathaniel Drake, he submitted an account to James Grant of Grant for work done in 1765-6 (National Archives of Scotland, GD248/249/2). He advertised varnish on 28 May 1768 (Whitley papers vol.3 p.281, source unspecified). He was mentioned by Michael Tyson in November 1771, who wrote to Richard Gough the antiquary to request him to call on Drake's in Long Acre to purchase ivories and brushes for miniatures, also requesting agates for grinding colours (John Nichols, Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, 1814, vol.8, pp.571-4). He promised to supply canvas on stretched frames for James Barry at the Society of Arts for £100 in March 1777 (Whitley 1928, vol.1, p.330).

For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

**Christian Dresch, 6 Little Compton St, Soho, London 1820-1827, 10 Broad St 1828-1841. Colour manufacturer, later artists’ colourman.

Christian Dresch (1785-1841), the son of Michael Dresch, was described as a wholesale watercolour preparer in the Post Office London directory for many years from 1822. Christian Dresch and his wife, Lucy, had ten children between 1809 and 1828, christened in the parishes of St Paul Covent Garden (1809-13), St James Westminster (1815, 1819-23) and St Anne Soho (1817, 1828), including a son, Christian, christened in 1817. In his will, made 2 March and proved 31 March 1841, Christian Dresch, colour manufacturer of Bloomsbury, left his estate to his then wife Mary Ann and to his daughter Rosa, making his wife and Thomas Morris of Southampton St, Covent Garden, his executors; one of the witnesses to his will was Ebenezer Fox (qv), an artists’ colourman of 50 Old Compton St.

Dresch was accused of receiving stolen goods in 1838 in the form of cake colours and crayons allegedly taken from the artists’ colourman, Charles Smith (see Smith, Warner & Co), but he was acquitted following a trial at the Old Bailey (Proceedings of the Old Bailey). There was a fire in the adjoining street in April 1840, causing some damage to the rear of Dresch’s premises, described as at nos 9 and 10 Broad St. There was a further fire on 27 February 1841. Three days later Dresch signed his will and he died the same month (Morning Chronicle 26 August 1840, Morning Post 1 March 1841).

Dresch produced colour cakes, marked: ‘C. DRESCH’S Imperial’, with the address Compton St, Soho, London (examples, private coll., Dorset, exh. Georgian Faces: Portrait of a County, Dorset County Museum, 2011, inspected April 2011, with thanks to Gwen Yarker).

 Sources: ‘Descendants of Michael Dresch & Wife, Middlesex, England, c1760’, family history site at http://www.tomrobinson.co.nz/genealogy/dresch.html, accessed April 2011, from which details of Christian Dresch’s birth, his father and the birth of one of his daughter’s is drawn. For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

James Driver 1817-1818, Charles B. Driver 1816-1831 or later, Driver & Shaw 1824-1826. At 300 Strand, London 1816-1824, 117 Bishopsgate St 1824-1830, 19 Cornhill from 1831. Stationers, booksellers, colour manufacturers.

Charles Burrell Driver (1788-1852), the eldest of three known children of Abraham Purshore Driver, took over the premises of Reeves & Inwood (qv) at 300 Strand, and was first listed in 1816 (Post Office directory). James Driver was listed in 1817 and 1818 (Johnstone's directory). Subsequently the short-lived partnership, Driver & Shaw advertised as successors to Reeves & Inwood, and as 'Manufacturers of the Improved Superfine Colours', late of 300 Strand, in their trade card, which can be dated to c.1824-6 (Johnson Collection). Driver & Shaw published a 21-page catalogue of improved superfine colours and drawing materials in 1824 (Yale Center for British Art, see Ken Spelman Rare Books, York, cat. 59, 2006, item 18; this example of the catalogue has an additional wrapper with the address of John Wolstenholme, bookseller, York). The partnership between Charles Burrell Driver and Edmund Shaw, watercolour manufacturers and stationers, was dissolved on 31 December 1826 (London Gazette 1 May 1827). Charles Burrell Driver had an account with Roberson, 1828-31 (Woodcock 1997). He was father of Robert Collier Driver, a leading member of a family of surveyors and auctioneers, responsible for many prominent London property sales.

For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

 **George Druke by 1816-1837, Sarah Druke 1837-1859. At Chapman St, Pentonville, London 1816, 97 Goswell St, Aldersgate 1817-1828, 6 Tower Royal 1830-1845, 5 Cloak Lane 1846-1859. Colour manufacturer (also described as maker of fine colours and as colour merchant).

George Druke (c.1784-1835), followed by his widow, Sarah (c.1790-1859), were wholesale colour manufacturers. He was presumably from Prussia where his nephew Christian originated (see below).

John George Druke, chemist of Chapman St, Pentonville, was granted a patent in 1816 for a method of expelling molasses or syrup out of refined sugars (The Repertory of Arts, Manufactures, and Agriculture, vol.29, 1816, p.321, accessed through Google Book Search). As John George Druke of St James Clerkenwell, he married Sarah Cox at St George Hanover Square in 1826 (The Register Book of Marriages belonging to the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, Publications of the Harleian Society, vol.24, part 4, 1897, p.61). He was described as John George Henry Druke, age 51, of 5 Baldwin’s Court, St Thomas the Apostle, in his burial record in 1835, and as John George Druke in his will, made 10 February 1831 and proved 19 August 1835, in which he left all his properties to his wife Sarah, with Thomas Belcher and H.J. Martin as witnesses to the will.

Sarah Druke, his widow, continued business, moving in from Tower Royal in 1845, across Cannon Street to nearby Cloak Lane. In census records, she may be the individual listed in 1841 at Mansfield Place, Stepney, as a nurse, age 50, and more certainly in 1851 at Chigwell Row, Essex, as a colour merchant, born Shropshire, age 61, together with two unmarried sisters. She died on 7 October 1859 at Whitehall, Chigwell Row, leaving effects worth under £100. She was succeeded in business by John Cox, her brother. Ann Salter, one of her beneficiaries, and her husband Samuel Salter, were granted administration of her estate in 1867, the estate having been left unadministered by John Cox. The Salters subsequently took action against Mary Cox and James Clowes as creditors to Sarah Druke (The Standard 25 May 1870, London Gazette 27 May 1870, 16 June 1871, information from Sally Woodcock).

Christian Druke, described as Sarah’s nephew, was living at 6 Tower Royal in 1837, superintending her business according to his testimonial in an Old Bailey trial (see Old Bailey Proceedings, information from Sally Woodcock). He described his aunt as residing in the country. As Christian Henry Augustus Druke from Prussia, he was naturalised British on 12 February 1847 (National Archives, HO 1/24/536). Christian Druke was listed as a colour maker at 15 Garlick Hill, Upper Thames St in 1851 and 1852, and had an account with Roberson, 28 March 1850 to 3 June 1851 (information from Sally Woodcock). He was made bankrupt in 1853 (London Gazette 13 December 1853).

Activities as colour manufacturers: George Druke, listed as wholesale manufacturing colourman, had an account with Roberson from 3 April 1820 to 23 May 1837, and his widow and successor, Sarah Druke, an account from 11 April 1842 to 16 May 1854 (Woodcock 1997). There is a recipe in the Roberson Archive, given as Mastic Varnish S. Druke, dating to 30 April 1857 (recipe book, HKI MS 788-1993, p.48, information from Sally Woodcock).

George Druke supplied colours to Roberson, 1820-2, 1830, and probably throughout the period (Hamilton Kerr Institute, MS 139-1993, 148-1993). Sarah Druke supplied colours from Tower Royal in 1842, and probably throughout the period, and from 5 Cloak Lane, 1854-59, including cobalt blue and other colours, and was succeeded in business supplying Roberson by her brother, John Cox (MS 944-1993 p.143, 180-1993). These accounts require more detailed exploration to gain a fuller understanding.

Intriguingly, the artist John Linnell decided to experiment in 1848 with filling his own paint tubes. He purchased colours directly from Druke and acquired the necessary tubes from Rand & Co (qv) (Fitzwilliam Museum, Linnell account book, MS 22-2000).

For abbreviations, see Resources and bibliography.

Found a mistake? Have some extra information? Please contact Jacob Simon at jsimon@npg.org.uk.