biography of Octavius OAKLEY (1800-1867)

Birth place: London, England

Death place: Bayswater, London, England

Addresses: May have been in NYC in 1835

Profession: Genre, portrait, and landscape painter

Studied: London

Exhibited: Royal Acad., London, 1826-32, 1842-46, 1852-56, 1860; NAD (1834 with London address; 1835, with NYC address; 1852 with London address); Brooklyn AA, 1870, 1874

Comments: An English painter, he was frequently referred to as "Gipsy Oakley" because of his many watercolors of English gypsies. In 1835 he exhibited at the National Academy with a NYC address, the same as that of George Oakley (see entry) who was probably an older brother. According to the gap in his years exhibiting at he Royal Academy, it appears that Octavius was living in NYC some time between 1833-41 before returning to London where he spent the rest of his career. Yet, his exhibition record also shows he kept some ties in New York.

Sources: G&W; DNB; Thieme-Becker; Cowdrey, NAD.