30 Greatest Irish Artists | Ireland Through a Canvas

Updated On: April 15, 2024 by   Marise

Interested in art? Interested in Ireland? Want to explore both on your travels? Look no further! Here at ConnollyCove, we have comprised the top 30 Irish Artists and where you can find their work when exploring Ireland.

Irish Artist | Kevin Abosch

Kevin Abosch was born in 1969. He has explored many different types of art throughout his career such as: photography, sculpture, installation, blockchain and film. His work has been placed in exhibits world-wide: Russia, Columbia, Switzerland and of course Ireland.

Displayed in Ireland?

When visiting Ireland, you can view some of Kevin Abosch’s photographs in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. Here you will find three of Abosch’s portraits: Portrait of Brian O’Driscoll, Portrait of Olwen Fouére and Portrait of Bob Geldof. These are displayed in the National Portrait Collection.

Success?

An international success, some of his works have sold for over £1million each, such as his photograph entitled: Potato #345. It is a photo of a potato, one of the most expensive photographs in the world.

He was employed as the creative director for Animoca, a Gaming Company.

Irish Artist | Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon was born in Dublin in 1909. He began his painting career journey in his twenties. He was an interior decorator for a while, a somewhat detour from his true calling. In 1944 his artwork came to life and his name became known, with his triptych “Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion”. Much of his work consists of: popes, crucifixions and portraits of friends. 

After losing his partner, George Dyer, to suicide, Bacon’s work changed and became sombre, his main theme becoming that of the passage of time and inevitable death. One of his best pieces of work from this time was “Study for Self-Portrait” (1982) and “Study for a Self-Portrait-Triptych” (1985-1986).

After his death in 1992, his artwork value has increased, and some of his work is the most expensive and sought-after in the world.

Displayed in Ireland?

• Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin. Here, you can find Bacon’s studio which was relocated from London. The studio exhibit holds thousands of Bacon’s belongings: what he used to paint, photographs, draft work, books and much more. Viewers of this studio can see the exact environment in which Bacon completed his artwork.
• Buckley Fine Art, Cork

Success?

During his life, and after his death, Bacon’s works have been displayed in the gallery’s worldwide. He became an inspiration for artists such as Julian Schnabel and Damien Hirst.

Irish Artist | James Barry

James Barry was born in Water Lane (now called Seminary Road), Cork, in 1741. He was a painter and is best known for his paintings in the Royal Society of Arts, London, entitled The Progress of Human Culture.

Displayed in Ireland?

• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork

Success?

A member of the Royal Academy of Arts, in 1782 was made a professor of painting in the room of Edward Penny

Irish Artist | Basil Blackshaw

Basil Blackshaw was born in 1932 in Glengormley, Co. Antrim. He was raised in Lisburn, Co. Down and educated at Methodist College Belfast, and Belfast College of Art. He was awarded a scholarship to study in art Paris. His themes often take inspiration from Ireland and Irishness: rural scenes, Irish Travellers, landscapes and farming. 

Displayed in Ireland?

• Irish Museum of Modern Art has his collections: Female Nude, Anna on a Sofa and Windows I-IV
• The Arts Council of Ireland have his collections The Last Walk and Green Landscape
• Tom Caldwell Gallery, Belfast
• Canvas Galleries, Belfast
• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Gordan Gallery, Derry
• Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Solomon, Dublin
• The Stables Gallery, Portstewart
• The Taylor Gallery, Belfast
• Ulster Museum, Belfast

Success?

In 1995, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland organised a retrospective tour of his work, it travelled around Ireland and the US.

He was awarded the Glen Dimplex Award in 2001 for a Sustained Contribution to the Visual Arts in Ireland.

Basil Blackshaw in 1977 was elected an associate of the Royal Ulster Academy of the Arts and later in 1981 elected an Academician.

Irish Artist | Louis le Brocquy

Louis le Brocquy was born in Dublin in November 1916. Throughout his art career, he expressed many art-forms: painting, drawing, sculpting, printmaking, ceramics, tapestry, illustration and design. He is most known for his paintings, which are displayed worldwide.

Displayed in Ireland?

If you are in Belfast be sure to visit the work: “A Study Towards an Image of James Joyce” (C. 1977). It is displayed in the Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast. Some of his work is also displayed in the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

• Jonathan Swift Gallery, Carrickfergus
• Warren Gallery, Castletownshend
• Solomon, Dublin
• The Apollo Gallery, Dublin
• The Portstewart Galleries
• The Taylor Gallery, Belfast
• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Canvas Galleries, Belfast
• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
• National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Niland Gallery, Sligo
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin
• Trinity College Dublin

Success?

A well-recognised name within the world of Art. During his lifetime he won the 1956 Premio Acquisto Internationale from the Venice Biennale (one-time award) and was elected Saoi by the Aosdána.

During his lifetime, he was the first and only painter to be included in The Permanent Irish Collection in the Gallery in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.

Irish Artist | William Conor

William Conor was born in Belfast in 1881. He is best known for his portrait and figure paintings. Most of his work took inspiration from the working-class life of his fellow Ulster-men. He attended Cliftonville Central National School and was then sent to the Government school of Design.

His studio in Belfast was based on the street now named Stranmillis Road. His studio is now a cafe, called Conor, with this blue plaque outside.

Displayed in Ireland?

• Ulster Museum, Belfast- here you can find over 50 of his crayon and watercolour pieces
• Whalley Gallery, Holywood
• Riverside Gallery, Coleraine
• Fine Irish Art, Omagh
• Castle Gallery, Antrim
• Charles Gilmore Fine Art, Down
• Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• The Taylor Gallery, Antrim
• White Image, Down
• William Street Gallery, Kilkenny

Success?

When the Belfast Art Society became the Ulster Academy of Arts in 1903, William Conor became one of the first Academicians. In 1946 he became a full RHA Member and in 1957 was elected President. Following this, in 1952 he was awarded the O.B.E.

Today some of his pieces are worth over £50,000.

Irish Artist | Harry Clarke

Harry Clare was born in Dublin in 1889. He is best known for his novel illustrations and his stain-glass windows. Clarke found work as an illustrator in Dublin for Harrap. Throughout his life, he created more than 130 stain glass windows.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art

Success?

Many of his stain glass windows were used for Churches. His most noteworthy windows created were: the windows of the Honan Chapel in the University of Cork, a window featuring John Keats’ The Eve of St. Agnes (now in the Hugh Lane Gallery) and the Geneva Window (now in the Wolfsonian Museum in Miami).

Harry Clarke Bridge was built in Dublin in 2019.

Irish Artist | James Humbert Craig

James Humbert Craig was born in Belfast in 1877. The majority of his works focus on landscape paintings. He was in attendance at the Belfast School of Art, however, he failed to finish even one term. He, therefore, was a largely self-taught artist. Craig often took inspiration from The Glens of Antrim, Donegal and Connemara.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Fine Irish Art, Omagh
• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Clanart Gallery, Enniskillen
• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
• Killarney Art Gallery, Kerry
• Lisburn Art Gallery
• Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• The Bell Gallery, Belfast
• The Portstewart Galleries
• The Stables Gallery, Portstewart
• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Whalley Gallery, Holywood
• White Image, Hillsborough

Success?

In 1915, Craig’s work appeared in the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) and his work continued to be added until his death. He was an academician at the Ulster Academy of Arts; and was elected to the Royal Ulster Academy and the RHA in 1928. His work was also displayed at the Fine Arts Society, London.

Irish Artist | Gerald Dillon

Gerald Dillion was born in Belfast in 1916. In 1936 he began his career as an artist, before this he moved to London at the age of 18 and was a painter and decorator.

Displayed In Ireland?

• National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin- here you will find a self-portrait of Gerald and a landscape of the West of Ireland
• Riverside Gallery, Coleraine

Success?

When he died, the Arts Councils of Belfast and Dublin set up an exhibition with 104 works which consisted of oil, watercolour, collage, tapestry, mixed media and etching.

In 1942 he had his first solo exhibition in Dublin at The County Shop. This exhibit was called “Father, Forgive Them Their Sins”, showing concerns about the war that had begun (World War 2).

Then, in 1958, he represented first Ireland at the Guggenheim International, then Britain at the Pittsburg International Exhibition.

The Gerard Dillon Gallery in the  Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (Belfast) is named in his honour.

His painting of the ‘Black Lake’ was also selected by the Irish Post Office for their fourth stamp.

Irish Artist | William Percy French

William Percy French was born in County Roscommon in 1854. He was educated in Foyle College, Derry and then Trinity College, Dublin. After graduating as a civil engineer, while working he wrote many of his best songs and painted many landscapes.

In his lifetime he was best known for his songwriting, however, after his death, his art became widely recognised.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Charles Gilmore Fine Art, Holywood
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• The Taylor Gallery, Belfast
• White Image, Hillsborough

Success?

As time has passed, his artwork has increased in value. In 2005 his watercolour landscape “Where ever I go my heart turns back to the County Mayo” was sold for £44,000.

A biography focusing on his artwork was produced in 2002 by Oliver Nutty. He has also made ten solo exhibitions of French’s work in the Oriel Gallery, Dublin.

Irish Artist | Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford in 1878. Gray was a famous Irish architect and furniture designer. Her parents divorced and her father left Ireland to paint in Europe.

After the death of her father and brother, Gray’s serious art education began. She studied first at the Slade School in London and then in 1902 studied at the Académie Colarossi, then Académie Julian.

In 1917, Gray was hired as an interior designer, beginning her architecture/ interior designing career.

Unfortunately, during World War 2, most of her artwork, drawings and models were destroyed. However, later she was asked to reproduce some of her best pieces.

Displayed In Ireland?

The National Museum of Ireland in Dublin has a permanent exhibition of her work in the Collins Barracks site

Unfortunately, her most famous work, E-1027 is kept in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, in France.

Success?

In 1972, a retrospective exhibition of her work was held in London, then in Dublin the following year. At this Dublin exhibition, Gray was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.

Gray was a pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture. In 2009 Gray’s “Dragons’ armchair made in 1917-1919 was sold for £21.9 million

Irish Artist | Paul Henry

Paul Henry was born at 61 University Road, Belfast in 1877. He is mainly remembered for his landscape paintings. He first studied at Methodist College Belfast before he began his art journey, studying at the Belfast School of Art, the Académie Julian and Whistler’s Académie Carmen.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Charles Gilmore Fine Art, Holywood
• Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork
• Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin
• Milmo-Penny Fine Art, Dublin
• Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Van’s Fine Art, Belfast

Success?

After Henry first exhibited at Dublin’s Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in 1910, he became an associate member in 1926, then in 1928 a full member. He was also one of the first academicians in the Ulster Academy of Arts.

Irish Artist | Mainie Jellett

Mary Harriet ‘Mainie’ Jellett was born in Dublin, 1897. Her career as an artist began under the teaching of Elizabeth Yeats. She later studied at the Metropolitan Art School in Dublin and the Westminster Technical Institute in London.

She was a painter who created and displayed one of the first abstract paintings in Ireland, entitled Decoration.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
• Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Niland Art Collection, Sligo
• Butler Gallery, Kilnenny
• Trinity College Dublin
• Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Dublin
• The Irish Museum of Modern Art is home to her Four Element Composition

Success?

In 1920 she was awarded the Taylor Art Scholarship.

Co-founder of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1944.

Irish Artist | Seán Keating

Seán Keating was born in Limerick, 1889. He was an Irish Romantic painter, known for his images of the Irish War of Independence and the early Industrialization.

Displayed In Ireland?

• The National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
• Trinity College Dublin
• Limerick City Art Gallery.

Success?

In 1918 Keating was made an associate at the RHA, made a full member in 1923 and made President from 1950 to 1962. Throughout his life, he exhibited almost 300 pieces of art at the RHA.

Keating was also a part of the initiative to establish the first Limerick City Collection of art.

Irish Artist | Harry Kernoff

Harry Kernoff was born in London, 1900. He moved to Dublin, influenced by Seán Keating, became a major figure in Irish Modernism. Best-known for his paintings displaying Dublin people and places.

Displayed in Ireland?

• Riverside Gallery, Coleraine
• The Apollo Gallery, Dublin
• Killarney Art Gallery
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast

Success?

He was a night student at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, the first night student to be awarded the Taylor Art Scholarship. In 1926 he exhibited at the RHA and was made a member in 1935. Then in 1939, he represented Ireland at the New York World’s Fair.

Irish Artist | John Lavery

Sir John Lavery was born in Belfast, 1856. An Irish painter is best known for his images of wartime. He married twice: his first wife, Kathleen MacDermott, in 1889; and his second, Hazel Martyn, in 1909. His second wife was heavily featured in his artwork.

Displayed In Ireland?

• The Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork (you can find The Red Rose)
• The Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Dublin ( here you can find his works: Sutton Courtenay and Japanese Switzerland)
• The Irish Museum of Modern Art (here you can find Miss Flora Lion in Her Oriental Costume)
• The National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
• Rothe House, Kilkenny
• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin

Success?

During the First World War he was made an official artist and after the war, was Knighted. Then in 1921, he was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts (RA).

Irish Artist | Norah McGuinness

Norah McGuinness was born in Derry, 1901. She studied first at the Derry Technical School then the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art under Patrick Tuohy, Oswald Reeves and Harry Clarke.

Displayed In Ireland?

• The National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin (Here you can find her portraits of Michael Scott and Denis Johnston. You can also find her work The Startled Bird)
• The Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
• The Apollo Gallery, Cork
• The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
• The Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Dublin
• Warren Gallery, Cork
• the Meath County Council
• The National Library of Ireland, Dublin

Success?

In 1944 she became President of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, Then in 1950 she, along with Nano Reid, was the first people to represent Ireland at the Venice Biennale.

Irish Artist | Frank McKelvey

Frank McKelvey was born in Belfast, 1895. He studied at the Belfast School of Art. He is best known for his paintings of landscapes and portraits.

Displayed In Ireland?

• The Village Gallery, Antrim
• The Ulster Museum, Belfast
• The Whalley Gallery, County Down
• Clanart Gallery, Fermanagh
• Lisburn Art Gallery
• Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• The Portstewart Galleries

Success?

“Sir Charles Brett” prize for figure drawing there in 1912. By 1918 his work was exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy and in 1921 he was elected a member of the Belfast Art Society. McKelvey was appointed an associate of the RHA in 1923, being granted full membership in 1930.

He was elected as one of the first academicians of the Ulster Academy of Arts when it was founded in 1930

Irish Artist | Colin Middleton

Colin Middleton was born in Belfast, 1910. He studied at the Belfast College of Art. He was a poet, musician and artist. His inspiration and influence were Vincent van Goth. He is best known for his artwork focusing on surrealism.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Castle Gallery, Antrim
• Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Riverview Art Gallery, Fermanagh
• The Portstewart Galleries
• The Ulster Museum, Belfast
• The Taylor Gallery, Antrim

Success?

He was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and made an associate at the RHA IN 1969. He was then made a full member of the RHA in 1970.

In 1976 a retrospective exhibition was held at The Ulster Museum and the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin.

Irish Artist | Roderic O’Conor

Roderic O’Conor was born in Miltown, County Roscommon, in 1860. He studied at the Royal Hibernian Academy then at the Ampleforth College. He also travelled to France to further his knowledge and became influenced by the impressionists.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• The Taylor Gallery, Belfast
• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin

Success?

In 1892 he travelled to Pont-Aven in Brittany, here, he got involved with the Pont-Aven Movement under Paul Gauguin.

Irish Artist | Tony O’Malley

Tony O’Malley was born in Callan, County Kilkenny, in 1913. He was a self-taught artist. His art career did not begin until he was forced to leave his bank job due to contracting tuberculosis in the 1940s. He did return to his bank job, however, continued to paint alongside this and started to exhibit his work in 1951.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• The Portstewart Galleries
• The Leinster Gallery, Dublin
• The Taylor Gallery, Belfast

Irish Artist | Daniel O’Neill

Daniel O’Neill was born in Belfast, 1920. He briefly studied at the Belfast College of Art, however, he is mainly a self-taught artist. He is known for his romanticism and expressionist technique.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Ulster Museum, Belfast
• Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast
• Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Dublin
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin

Success?

Throughout his life, his work was mainly exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy.

Irish Artist | William Orpen

Major Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen was born in Stillorgan, Dublin, in 1878. He studied art at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, then at the Slade School of Art.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin

Success?

In 1919 Orpen was made an associate member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and in 1921, made a full member. After his death, there was a memorial exhibition in New York in 1932. There was also a retrospective exhibition of his work in the National Gallery of Ireland in 1978. Later, in 2005, the Imperial War Museum created a retrospective exhibition of his artwork.

Irish Artist | Walter Osborne

Walter Frederick Osborne was born in Rathmines, Dublin, in 1859. He is best known for his oil landscapes. He studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp. Later, he became a member of the RHA.

Displayed In Ireland?

• National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin- here you will find his piece called Apple Gathering
• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork

Success?

He won the Taylor Prize in 1881 and 1882. n 1886, he was elected to the Royal Hibernian Academy and received many commissions for portraits.

Irish Artist | Markey Robinson

David Marcus Robinson was born in Belfast, 1918. During his lifetime, he mainly produced paintings but was also interested in sculptures and stain glass panels. He studied at the Belfast College of Art and his first exhibitions took place in Belfast during World War 2.

His name became circulated after his many exhibitions which took place in the Oriel Gallery, Dublin.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Canvas Galleries, Belfast
• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Cristeph Gallery, Donegal
• Balla Ban Art Gallery, Dublin
• Clan Art Gallery, Fermanagh
• Dispensary House Gallery, Armagh
• East Down Gallery, Down
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Canvas Galleries, Belfast
• The Portstewart Galleries
• Taylor Gallery, Belfast
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast

His stain glass panel can be seen at the entrance of the Oriel Gallery.

Success?

A retrospective exhibition of his work was created in the Oriel Gallery by the Taoiseach in 2008.

Irish Artist | Sean Scully

Sean Scully was born in Dublin, 1945. Sean Scully is best known for his painting and printmaking. He studied at the Central School of Art, London; then at the Croydon College of Art and, later graduated from Newcastle University.

He settled in New York after being offered a fellowship at Harvard. After studying art, he became a professor at the Academy of Dine Arts in Munich.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Canvas Galleries, Belfast
• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
• Kerlin Gallery, Dublin
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oisin Gallery, Dublin
• The Portstewart Galleries, Derry
• The Taylor Gallery, Belfast

Success?

Sean Scully was nominated for the Turner Prize twice. His artwork has been exhibited worldwide. In 2019 the BBC made a documentary about him, called: Unstoppable: Sean Scully and the Art of Everything.

Irish Artist | Mary Swanzy

Mary Swanzy was born in Dublin, 1882. She is best known for her paintings and abstract style. Her first exhibition was held in the RHA in 1905 called Portrait of a Child. She continued to exhibit there yearly, until 1910.

Displayed In Ireland?

• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Oriel Gallery, Dublin
• Ulster Museum, Belfast

Success?

Mary Swanzy was made an honorary member of the RHA and the Hugh Lane Gallery held a retrospective exhibit in 1968. In 1975, she featured in the Cork ROSC. In 1982 the Taylor Galleries held an exhibit to remember her after her death.

Irish Artist | Patrick Tuohy

Patrick Tuohy was born in Dublin, 1894. He is best known for his paintings and portraits. He studied at the Metropolitan School of Art under William Orpen, and later, became a professor of painting and a member of the RHA.

Success?

He was a well-known artist, he was appointed to paint James Joyce and his family’s portraits.

Irish Artist | Michael Warren

Born in Gorey, County Wexford, 1950. He is best known for his public sculptors. He studied at the Bath Academy of Art, Trinity College, Dublin and the Accademia di Brera in Milan.

Displayed In Ireland?

Many of his sculptures are displayed around the world, here, we have listed some of the sculptures you can visit around Ireland:

• Unbroken Line is displayed at Dublin Castle
• Obelisk is displayed at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in County Meath
• Almanac is displayed at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast
• Chi is displayed at the Ulster Museum in Belfast
• Stele for Thomas Wyse is displayed at the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford
• Salmon Fall is displayed at the University of Limerick
• Countermovement is displayed at Trinity College Dublin
• Go Deo, Homage to Samuel Beckett is displayed at Trinity College, Dublin
• Void Anchored is displayed at Kilkenny Castle
• Janus is displayed at University College Cork, Western Gate Building
• Throughway is displayed at the University College Dublin
• Beneath the ‘bow is displayed at the Irish Museum of Modern art in Dublin
• A granite sculpture, De-Creation V, and his Millennium Sculpture are displayed at the RTÉ Radio Centre
• Her Hair II is displayed at the Courtown Harbour in County Wexford

Irish Artist | John Butler Yeats

John Butler Yeats was born in Laurencetown, County Down in 1839. The father of the famous author William Butler Yeats and artist John Butler Yeats. Also the grandfather of artist Anne Butler Yeats. He is best known for his portraits, his portrait of John O’Leary is considered his masterpiece.

Displayed In Ireland?

• National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
• Riverside Gallery, Coleraine
• Castle Gallery, Lisburn
• Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
• Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
• Niland Gallery, Sligo

Success?

The Yeats family was very successful in the world of art and literature.

Are you an artist or appreciate art? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below which artist you really love.

If you enjoyed this post about Ireland’s greatest artists, please enjoy more ConnollyCove posts about things to do and see in Ireland:

Art Galleries in Belfast: A Local’s Guide to Must-See Attractions | 24 Hours in Belfast: Experience the Best of Northern Ireland’s Capital City | Best Free Things to do in Northern Ireland | The National Gallery in London- London Attractions | Art Galleries in Ireland: An Art Lovers Guides | Maser: The Irish Street Artist Taking the World By Storm | The Little Museum of Dublin | Where to Visit in Ireland: Dublin or Belfast