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270 JAMES ARTHUR O’CONNOR (1792-1841)
A man walking on a wooded path by a rocky torrent
Oil on canvas, 51 x 61cm
The son of William O’Connor, an engraver, James Arthur was born in Dublin. He is said to have had some
lessons from William Sadler but otherwise he is thought to have been largely self-taught. He had his first
exhibition at the SIA in 1809. In 1813, accompanied by Danby and Petrie he went to London but found that
they couldn’t afford to stay for long. Danby and O’Connor walked to Bristol where Danby is said to have
given his companion the money to return home to Dublin.
In 1818 and 1819 he visited the West of Ireland and painted local scenes around Westport and Portumna
for Lord Sligo and Lord Clanricarde. In 1820 he received a small award from the Royal Irish Institution, but,
unable to support himself in Ireland he left for England in 1822. On his arrival in London he began to exhibit
at the RA and to sell his works. He spent a year in Brussels in 1826 and again in 1830. In 1832 he stayed
some months in Paris and on his circuitous return journey to London he visited the Moselle and Rhine val-
leys. Strickland claimed that he painted his best pictures while on this tour. He sent works to the RHA in 1836
and 1840. He died in 1841 in poverty. He was a versatile artist whose work featured topographical scenes,
dramatic seascapes but most commonly picturesque rural scenes and romantic landscapes, many of them
based on his early studies in the Dargle valley in Co. Wicklow.
€ 8,000 - 12,000
A very similar work by the artist
Sold these room 6/12/2010 €14,500