xt7qjq0stw34_5257 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474.dao.xml unknown archival material 1997ms474 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. W. Hugh Peal manuscript collection Thomas Oldham Barlow letter to Henry [Bickuck?], with a clipping text 43.94 Cubic Feet 86 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 22 items Poor-Good Peal accession no. 11453. Thomas Oldham Barlow letter to Henry [Bickuck?], with a clipping 2017 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474/Box_61/Folder_17/Multipage28006.pdf 1870 May 31, undated 1870 1870 May 31, undated section false xt7qjq0stw34_5257 xt7qjq0stw34 Z7 .21. 4570‘

 

 MR. T. O. BARLO‘V, A.R.A.

Mr. Thomas Oldham Barlow was born at Uldham, near Man-
chester. From a very early ago his desire was to be a painter
or an engraver. His father wisely yielded to his wish; but, on
making inquiries, thought he would have abetter chance of
success in the use of the graVcr than of the brush, and therefore
placed him with Messrs. Stephenson and Royston, engravers,
of Manchester. He became a student in the School of Design
there, and gained the first prize (ten guineas) for a design
exhibited under the title of “ Uullings from Nature.” At the
Manchester Exhibition he saw a small picture by the late John
Phillip, entitled “ Courtship,” and endeavoured to persuade a
friend to purchase it, that he might engrave it before coming to
London ; but this he was reluctantly obliged to abandon.
Soon after coming to London he made the acquaintance of a
gentleman who suggested his engraving a picture, and offered
to supply the necessary means. He therefore went to the first
exhibition that was opened (that of the British Institution),
where, to his delight, the first picture that caught his eye was
the very picture which he had desired to engrave in Man-
chester. This introduced him to the late John l’hillip, whose
first copyright Mr. Barlow therefore purchased for £5~M1z
Phillip having at first refused to take anything for it; and
thus began their well-known friendship. Their similarity of
taste and feeling was so marked that they seemed inseparable ;
and during the twenty years in which they were (it might be
almost said) united, their common friends could scarcely mention
the one without the other. Even since John Phillip has passed
away, the presence of Thomas Oldham Barlow seems almost to
bring the departed into the circles in which they 11sec
to move together. _ This intimacy and sympathy naturall
resulted in Mr. L‘arlow engraving most of Phillips pictures -
and, while his other works show how thoroughly he can enter
into the feeling of the artists whose pictures he engraves,
especially those of Mr. hlillais, nowhere does he seem more at
home than in the works of his departed friend. The estima-
tion in which Mr. Barlow is held has been seen from the fact
that he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy by an
almost unanimous vote. ]t is a source of congratulation that,
while the limited number of Associate Engravers renders the
election of them rare, Mr. Barlow has not had to wait until his
powers are on the wane, but has received this distinction in
the full vigour of. his life. He has just finished an engraving
of the diploma picture of the late John Phillip: its title,
“Prayer in Spain.” It might be called “The Pharisce and
Publiean ;” for one figure seems to be kissing her cross and
coquetting with religion, whilst the other, a poor sorrow
stricken sufferer, hardly ventures to lift her eye for seine slight
gleam of light upon the darkness of her spirit. Certainly the
work is a line example of Phillip’s wonderful power of subtle
perception. The public will be glad to know that M r. Barlow
has undertaken to make a collection of all Phillip’s works for
this year’s International Exhibition. The following are some
of the principal works engraved by Mr. Barlow :‘Altcr John
7 Phillip, R.A., “ Courtship,” “Spanish Gipsy Mother ; ”
“Augustus Egg, 1t.A.,” “ H.R.H. Prince Consort,” “ The
House of Commons, 1860,” “Dona Pcpita,” “ Seville,” “The
Prison Window,” “Prayer.” After J. J. Sant, 1t.A., “Mother
and Ohih .” After F. W. Topham, “Making Nets.” After-WY.
P. Frith, 1{.A., “Charles Dickens.” After Henrietta Browne,
“Sisters of Mercy.” After Sir G. Kneller, “ Sir Isaa
Newton.” After H. \Vallis, “ The Death of Chattcrton ; ” and
after J . E. Millais, “The Huguenot,” “My First Sermon,”
“ My Second Sermon,” “Awake,” “Asleep,” and “Join
Fowler, Esq., 0.13.”
The Portrait is engraved from a photograph by Messrs.
Elliott and Fry, of Baker-street.