Walter Osborne RA RHA

Walter Fredrick Osborne (1859-1903) was an Irish impressionist painter who, despite passing away at quite a young age, established himself as one of the most sought after and talented Irish artists of his time. Born in Rathmines, Dublin, he was educated at the Royal Hibernian Academy School, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and by his father, William Osborne, who was a successful painter also. He took influence from French realist, plein-air painter, Jules Bastien-Lepage, and whilst in Brittany he developed his naturalist style of Impressionist landscape painting. His subject matters often centred on rural scenes featuring women, children and the elderly, however, he later turned to portrait painting in order to gain a steady income.
Osborne exhibited regularly with the Royal Hibernian Academy, of which he was made a member in in 1886, and the institution held a large retrospective of his work after his death. He passed very young at the age of 43 from pneumonia, which has led some critics to argue that he had not yet reached his artistic maturity. His final and unfinished work Tea in the Garden is part of the collection at the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery in Dublin and is critically acclaimed for its display of naturalism and impressionism. His work remains extremely popular and in demand from art collectors.