Maclise, Daniel (1806-1870)

Maclise, Daniel

PAINTER (IRELAND)

BORN 25 Jan 1806, Cork - DIED 25 Apr 1870, London: Chelsea: 4 Cheyne Walk
CAUSE OF DEATH pneumonia
GRAVE LOCATION London: Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green (033/2 (3325))

Daniel Maclise received a modest education and his father placed him at Newenham's Bank in 1820. In 1822 he left and entered the Cork school of Art. In 1825 he saw Sir Walter Scott in a bookshop in Ireland and made a sketch of him. The lithograph of the sketch became popular and commissions for portraits started coming his way.

He refused financial support but saved enough to go to London, where he made a sketch of the young actor Kean that once more became successful as a lithograph. In 1828 he entered the school of the Royal Academy and in 1829 he exhibited there for the first time. In 1831 he won a gold medal with "The Choice of Hercules". He concentrated on historical subjects but also painted portraits of literary friends. In 1835 he became an associate member of the Royal Academy and in 1840 he was promoted to full membership.

he was a close friend of Charles Dickens and he illustrated several of his works. Benjamin Disraeli was another friend. Between 1830 and 1836 he contributed portraits of literary persons to Fraser's Magazine under the name of Alfred Croquis. They were published in 1871 as the "Maclise Portrait Gallery".

In 1858 he started his painting of the meeting of Wellington and Blücher on the walls of Westminster Palace. He also painted "Death of Nelson" (1865). His dedication to his work damaged his health and he started to avoid company. In 1865 he refused the presidentship of the Royal Academy.

In 1870 he died of pneumonia. Shortly after his death Dickens spoke of him at the Royal Academy annual dinner as the 'gentlest and most modest of men'. It was Dickens' last public appearance before he died as well.

Related persons
• painted Ainsworth, William Harrison
• was a friend of Dickens, Charles
• painted Dickens, Charles
• painted Falcieri, Giovanni Battista
• painted Hogarth, Catherine
• painted Hogarth, Georgina
• was criticized by Ruskin, John

Events

2/12/1844	Charles Dickens reads "The Chimes" to a group of friends. It was at the house of John Forster. Among those present were Thomas Carlyle, Douglas Jerrold, Clarkson Stanfield, Daniel Maclise and Samuel Lamann Blanchard. [Dickens, Charles][Jerrold, Douglas]
2/5/1870	Last public appearance of Charles Dickens. It was at a banquet of the Royal Academy where he spoke in tribute of his friend Daniel Maclise who had died. The Prince and Princess of Wales were present. [Dickens, Charles]

Images
The grave of Daniel Maclise at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Picture by Androom (25 Mar 2016)	The grave of Daniel Maclise at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Picture by Androom (25 Mar 2016)