Biographies

Maclise was of Scottish and Irish descent and was destined to work as a bank clerk before he decided to devote himself to painting.

He frequented the Cork of Art School and became familiar with anatomy before going to London in 1827 with already the reputation of a good portrait painter.

He then studied at the Royal Academy and obtained in 1829 a gold medal, which earned him a grant. The same year he inaugurated his career with much success exhibiting a genre painting at the Royal Academy, where he showed his works until 1838.

He also worked for the «Fraser's Magazine» producing pencil portraits of influential people and became an associate member of the R.A in 1836 before becoming an academician four years later.

Maclise was commissioned to paint several works for the new Parliament building in 1846, notably «The Spirit of Justice», «Wellington meeting Blucher in Waterloo» or «The Death of Nelson», which he completed in 1864.

He was offered the presidency of the R.A in 1866 but refused this appointment as well as other rewards wanting above all to remain a simple man.

His arduous work in the Westminster Parliament affected his health and the death of his sister, who lived with him, caused him much grief.

Maclise illustrated several books, including the «Irish melodies» by Th. Moore and produced a series of 42 drawings relating to the history of the conquest of England by the Norsemen.