ADAM'S Country House Collections Day II - 14th October 2025

86 625 CONTINENTAL SCHOOL, 19TH CENTURY Portrait of Francis Viscount Taaffe (1789-1849) Oil on canvas, 70 x 56cm Inscribed verso The Taaffe family represents one of the most distinguished examples of the Irish “Wild Geese” who established themselves on the Continent following the upheavals of the 17th century. Originally from County Sligo, Ireland, the Taaffes rose to prominence through military and political service, both in their native land and later within the Habsburg Monarchy, where they became firmly embedded in the aristocratic and military elite. Francis Viscount Taaffe (1789–1849) belonged to this illustri- ous lineage, which maintained close ties to both Austria and Ireland. € 2,000 - 4,000 626 THOMAS HICKEY (1741-1824) Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on canvas, 70 x 57cm Thomas Hickey was born in Bachelor’s Walk, Dublin, in May 1741. He was the second son of Noah Hickey, a Capel Street confectioner, and his wife Anne. Hickey trained at the Dublin Society’s schools from 1753 to 1756, earning several prizes for his work. His early portraits, dating from 1758, established his reputation as an artist. Between 1761 and 1767, Hickey studied painting in Italy. Upon returning to Dub- lin, he exhibited with the Society of Artists (1768–1770), but struggled to find steady work. This led him to London, where he joined the Royal Academy school in 1770. By 1776, he had moved to Bath, residing there until 1780. In July 1780, Hickey set sail for India, a pivotal point in his career. His journey was interrupted when his ship was captured by French and Spanish fleets, diverting him to Lisbon. He remained in Portugal for several years, receiving commissions before continuing to Bengal, India, where he worked until 1791. During this time, he also travelled to Peking, China, with George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney, as the expe- dition’s portrait painter. Following the death of his brother John, Hickey returned briefly to Ireland in 1796. He was commissioned by Dr. Robert Emmet to paint portraits of his children, including Robert Emmet, the future nationalist. By 1798, Hickey had returned to India, where he sketched members of Tipu Sultan’s family during the Fourth Mysore War (1799– 1801). Hickey spent his final years in Madras, continuing to work until his death in 1824. His extensive travels and commissions earned him recognition as an important figure in eighteenth and early nineteenth century portraiture. € 2,000 - 3,000 627 ATTRIBUTED TO SIR T. LAWRENCE Portrait of a young man, half length Oil on canvas, 59 x 49cm € 800 - 1,200