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PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG CHILD C. 1820 - ATTRIBUTED TO SIR MARTIN ARCHER SHEE.

Portrait of a young child, half-length, in a white dress in a sculpted oval.
Oil on canvas in its original frame. Attributed to Sir Martin Archer Shee.

Sir Martin Archer Shee (1769 - 1850)
Shee was born in Dublin in December 1769 and studied at the city's Royal Society Schools from 1781-83, and was awarded medals for  landscape and portraiture. After leaving the Academy he practiced as a portrait painter principally in pastel, taking his sitters from Dublin society by the age of sixteen. In 1788, on the advice of the American portrait painter Gilbert Stuart, who was in Ireland at the time, Shee travelled to London where he met Joshua Reynolds and enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools. 

Working in oils and initially producing historical works, he moved first into Sir Thomas Lawrence's old studio in Jermyn Street and later George Romney's in Cavendish Square, and rapidly established himself as successful society portrait. He undertook commissions for the royal family and became an ARA in November 1798 and an RA in February 1800. On the death of Lawrence in 1830, Shee was knighted and succeeded him as President of the Royal Academy. Aside from his considerable artistic skills, Shee was further known as a poet, novelist, critic and writer on art. 
Higher resolution images on request. 
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Internal Ref: 00009
Canvas: 27" x 23" , 58cm x 52cm.
Framed: 31" x 28", 82cm x 72cm.