Daniel Maclise RA

Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) was born in Cork City but spent the majority of his life working in London as an Irish history, literary and portrait painter and illustrator. He worked in banking before leaving to study at the Cork School of Art and then, through making money in various commissions, was able to travel to London and enter the Royal Academy Schools.
Maclise enjoyed a great deal of success, leading the genre of British history painting during his time, and was also known for his character portraits, including one of his close friend Charles Dickens. He designed several illustrations for Dickens’ books and the writer wrote a eulogy for Maclise upon his death which he read at the Royal Academy banquet.
The artist exhibited regularly with and became a member of the Royal Academy and is well remembered for the murals he was commissioned for to adorn the walls of the House of Lords.