18^th – 19^th Century Irish

Painter specialised in portrait and history painting; poet and writer.

The son of a Catholic merchant, his father opposed his wish to become a painting. In spite of that, the young man studied art at the Royal Dublin Society, and later moved to London. Following the advice of Joshua Reynolds, whom he had met in 1788, he trained at the Royal Academy and in 1789 ―also the year he married ― he exhibited his first two paintings. In 1800 he was elected an Academician and he eventually ended up as president of the Royal Academy.

He moved to George Romney’s former studio, taking over in his stead. Despite the importance of Archer Shee’s work, his fame was eclipsed by other portrait makers of the time, such as Thomas Lawrence. The earlier portraits reveal more defined brushwork, with assured draughtsmanship and a profound psychological insight into the sitter, while in his later works his brushwork is freer. In 1845 an illness forced him to retire to Brighton.