LEWIS

lewis, john frederick (1805-1876), british painter, son of f. c. lewis, engraver, was born in london. he was elected in 1827 associate of the society of painters in water colours, of which he became full member in 1829 and president in 1855; he resigned in 1858, and was made associate of the royal academy in 1859 and academician in 1865. much of his earlier life was spent in spain, italy and the east, but he returned to england in 1851 and for the remainder of his career devoted himself almost exclusively to eastern subjects, which he treated with extraordinary care and minuteness of finish, and with much beauty of technical method. he is represented by a picture, "edfou: upper egypt," in the national gallery of british art. he achieved equal eminence in both oil and water-colour painting.