ADAM'S IMPORTANT IRISH ART 28th May 2025

50 33 ROBERT LUCIUS WEST RHA (1774 – 1850) A Dispute Over Cards Oil on panel 53 x 41cm (21 x 16”) Signed Provenance: Possibly Agnews, London, remains of their trade label is attached to the picture frame. Sale Whytes, Dublin 9/10/2001, lot 90 €3,000/5,000 Robert Lucius West (c.1774–1850), Dublin-born portraitist, was the son and grandson of artists who both served as masters of the Dublin Society figure school, a position he eventually inherit- ed. Trained under his father, he won early accolades and began exhibiting in 1800. A prize-winning portrait in 1807 funded his further study in London. Though initially overlooked for the mastership of the figure school in favour of George Grattan, West secured the role through a membership vote. He became known for military portraiture, genre subjects and religious works, contributing regularly to the Royal Hibernian Academy from 1826 to 1853, which he helped found. However, his later career was marred by criticism of his teaching and declining artistic output. He retired in 1845 and died in 1850.