John Butler Yeats, Irish, 1839-1922
Title: Portrait of John O'Leary (1830-1907), Fenian
Date: 1904
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
91 x 71 cm
Credit Line: Presented, National Literary Society, 1908
Object Number: NGI.595
DescriptionThis portrait of John O'Leary, the second by John Butler Yeats, was commissioned by the National Literary Society. A republican and the President of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, O'Leary was born in Tipperary. He was associated with the Young Ireland movement and took part in the Rising of 1848, for which he was imprisoned for a short time. He settled in Paris following his release. He opposed both the 'New Departure' and the Land League, and became increasingly disillusioned with Fenianism. Committed himself more to literary and journalistic pursuits, he worked as joint editor of The Irish People, and was imprisoned on the suppression of the newspaper in 1865. John Butler Yeats painted many distinguished Irish men and women of the day. He was father of the poet W.B. Yeats, the painter Jack B. Yeats and Lily and Loly Yeats, who are important in the history of the arts and crafts movement in Ireland at the turn of the last century.
ProvenanceJohn O'Leary; bequeathed to the National Library Society; presented, National Library Society, 1908
Exhibition HistoryRoyal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, 1891
Loan Collection of Pictures by Nathaniel Hone, R.H.A. and John Butler Yeats, R.H.A., no. 6 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, 1901
Loan Collection of Pictures by Nathaniel Hone, R.H.A. and John Butler Yeats, R.H.A., no. 6 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, 1901