Some Works of Sir Martin Archer Shee

William Roscoe
(1753-1831)

SHEE, Sir MARTIN ARCHER

(1769-1850), portrait painter. Born in Dublin, 20 December 1769. Studied painting in the school of the Dublin Society under Francis West. By the age of seventeen he was able to make a good living as a portrait painter in crayons. In June 1788, he left for London. After initial set-backs, on the advice of Sir Joshua Reynolds, he entered the schools of the RA, and soon began to make steady progress. He had a number of portraits accepted by the Academy in 1791 and 1792. Became an Associate in 1798. Elected full member, 1800. He now had an assured position and a large practice as a portrait painter. Elected President of the RA 25 January 1830. Knighted that year. He worked with skill and diplomacy to advance the interests of the Academy and of the profession, and in his own words, ‘was always ready to break a lance with the vandalism of the day’. In 1826 the RHA made him an honorary member in recognition of his services in securing its charter. He published a number of poems, two novels and a tragedy. His health began to decline about 1843, and he stopped painting and proposed to resign his presidency. The whole body of members and associates requested that he remain and voted him a salary of £300 a year for his life. Died at Brighton, 19 August 1850.

Source: Henry Boylan, A Dictionary of Irish Biography, (New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1978), pp. 325-326.

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