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10. Rose Barton RWS (1856 - 1929)
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Watercolour, 27.5 x 18cm
Exhibited:“Rose Barton Retrospective”,The Crawford Gallery, Cork, Jan 1987 which
travelled to London, Belfast and Kilkenny, Cat. No. 31
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Tipperary born Rose Barton began a long relationship with the Royal Water Colour
Society of Ireland in 1872 when she first exhibited with them.Three years later she
spent some time in Brussels, taking painting and drawing classes, and in 1878 she
exhibited for the first time at the RHA.The following year she sat on the committee
of the Irish Fine Art Society.
After a spell of studying in London under Paul Jacob Naftel (1817-91), her work was
included in the Royal Academy show in 1884. She continued to exhibit in London
at venues such as the Japanese Gallery,The Dudley Gallery, Grosvenor Gallery and
Clifford Gallery. In 1904 two of her works were included in Hugh Lane’s Irish Art
exhibition at Guildhall in London, and three were shown at the RHA annual show.
Barton’s watercolours, mainly executed in Dublin and London, are distinguished by
an emphasis on the almost tangible atmospheric effects of weather conditions. She
became known not only through these original works but also through her illustrated
books of both cities.
