The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-06-09

year, and we may assume that the young
artist had at that early age reached a
position of some eminence in the profess
sion, as otherwise his life would not have
been thought of sufficient interest to
merit publication, The boy received his
education from Catholic priest who
kept school in Soho. One day, while
drawing on .'dead wall' for the benefit
of a crowd of youngsters, an artist
CHANGED to pass by, and, struck with the
skill of the boy, brought him to his
studio, introduced him to the mysteries
of the art, got him entered as student
at the Royal Academy, and in few
years the boy became member OF the
Academy, and great artist. During
MS last years Mulready was teacher in
the Life School Of the Academy.
OF the artist as man, Mr.. z. G..
Stephens, who has published memories
of Mulready" writes
"Apart from his professional position,
Mulready was adectionately regarded by
all who felt his worth, from the old fell
low-student Of 60 years of age to the
latest admitted tyro of the Life Academy.
In society, full of anecdote and memories
of men of note, earnest and simple, and
steadily pursuing a plan Of life, he was
always singularly interesting COM
panion. None could be a warmer friend.
From his hands many secret charities
flowed. No youth came to him for
counsel in vain, while many got SUBJ
stantial aid, and all genial word. No
wonder this man has left many grateful
and loving thoughts, where every student
was almost a son. Active, vigorous.
blithe, a kindly, and true gentleman, in
the best sense of the word, the great
artist was also good friend and pleas
ant companion, not only at the table and
at the front of the easel, but on the road
and on the river"
It is remarkable fact that Mulready.
though he lett Ireland in his sixth year,
and never returned again, always spoke
in rich, melodious Munster accent
His domestic life was not s. happy one.
In 1904, when Is years of age, he mar
ried Miss Varley (herself an artist and
sister OF John Varley, a master color
painter, from Cork, with whom Mulready
lived), but few years afterwards they
separated, and were never again re-
united, though both lived for more than
half a century subsequently, To the
very end Mulready retained the full pos
session OF all hzs great ability, and his
health, too, had always been remarkably
vigorous. Two days before his death
he was drawing i'll the Life School Of the
Royal Academy. TIE tried to finish o
picture, but failed. 1.-THE aged Irish
artist went home to die. It was home
almost solitary enc in which there was
only the sunshine Of Art triumphant,
little or nothing Of the how Of domestic
happiness. Mulready accomplished i'm
persishable fame, but he made ship
wreck of all besides, an6, though blame
less himself, his way through life WAS
under an abiding shadow of grief" He
died on the 7th July, 1858.
As [ have remarked already, but a
single picture by Mulreaay is to be seen
in the National Gallery OF Ireland. IA
early as 1848--l5 years before his death
an exhibition of his pictures, drawings;
and sketches, which took place at the
Society Of Arts, London, contained 214
works; and it is regrettable fact that
the governors and guardians Of our Ma.
tional Gallery have been unable to Sc
cure more than the one specimen of the
work of such a renowned Irish artist.
During the sixty years he labored he ex-
hibited seve1ty-eight works at the Royal
Academy, London, and Of these fifteen
are now in the Sheepshanks Collection
at South Kensington, and three in the
English National Gallery, besides two
other sketches that were not sent to tie
Academy It is said that Mulreaay gen
ezally exhibited but one picture in the
year, but in 1874 he had fve-his great
est number in one year--in the Academy.
The Academy pictures now in the Ma
tional Gallery are-"The Last In"
truant boy has arrived late at the village
school; the master, in irony, rises, takes
off his hat, and makes the boy an humble
bow; "Fair Time" two tipsey men re-
turning from the fair, one giving half
pence to some boys, the other dancing
before the door Of a cottage to the right,
the inmates looking on with disgust and
indignation; Crossing She Ford,'' two
lads carrying young woman on their
joined hands, between them, over q
stream. The other two pictures are
"a Snow Scene" and "a Seashore