Note 2 — JOHN SHEPPARD. EXECUTED FOR HOUSE-BREAKING.

This celebrated painter, whilst decorating the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, nearly fell a victim to his zeal in that undertaking. One day, when pursuing his task on the scaffold erected round the dome for that purpose, he kept walking backwards, surveying the effect of his work, until he had nearly approached the edge, from which another step would have precipitated him. At this instant his servant, who perceived the danger his master was in, with a wonderful presence of mind seized a pot of colour, and threw it over the painting. This caused Sir James to rush forward for the preservation of his work, and he was thus saved from being dashed to pieces, which, but for this timely intervention, must have been his fate. This eminent man painted the whole of the cupola of St. Paul’s, and also the halls of Greenwich Hospital and Blenheim. He was born in 1675, and was originally a house-painter, but afterwards applied himself to historical subjects, and equalled the best painters of his time. In 1719 he was appointed Historical Painter to George I., and shortly afterwards was created a knight. He was employed in several extensive works, for which he was in general very inadequately paid; and, at times, even found it difficult to obtain the stipulated price. His demands were contested at Greenwich Hospital, although he only received 25s. a square yard; about the same time a foreigner, for doing less work at Montague House, received 2000l. for his work, besides 600l. for his diet. For St. Paul’s he received 40s. a square yard. He also decorated More Park, but was obliged to sue Mr. Styles for it; he, however, not only recovered 3,500l. the sum agreed to be paid him, but 500l. more for decorations about the house. Notwithstanding these difficulties, he acquired a considerable fortune, and was several years in parliament; he was also a Fellow of the Royal Society. His genius was equally happy in history, allegory, landscape, and architecture; he even practised the last science as a man of business, and built several houses. He died in 1734, in the same place where he was born. He left a son, who followed his father’s profession; and a daughter, who married the celebrated Hogarth.